The First Minister made a series of embarrassing blunders on police reform today. He was completely unable to answer the question, from Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP, on the annual savings from his police centralisation plans.
Willie Rennie MSPWhen the First Minister did come forward with a number in answer to a later question, he gave the cumulative figure for police and fire added together by mistake.
He evidently didn't know that almost that entire figure comes from savings that are not attributable to his power-grab. He admitted that he was taking police officers off the front line to deal with the reorganisation. But again, had no idea how many.
The First Minister capped these blunders with an embarrassing rant about the Advocate General which was nothing to do with the questions Mr Rennie asked.
Commenting leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP said,
"People should be very concerned that the First Minister who wants to grab control of the police to the centre of government is unable to answer basic questions about his own plans.
"His attention is obviously not on the job."