Scottish opposition pushes Swinney on free school meal and flat-rate rail fare cuts

Scottish government accused of undermining efforts to combat child poverty and cost of living crisis

Opposition parties in Scotland have urged John Swinney to reverse unpopular cuts to free school meals and flat-rate rail fares after he suffered two defeats at Holyrood.

In a major test of the first minister's minority government, opposition MSPs united behind Conservative motions that condemned decisions to scrap plans to provide free school meals for all primary school pupils and reintroduce peak rail fares.