The MSP for Dumbarton who is currently acting as Scottish Labour spokesperson at Holyrood was responding to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s Programme for Government, describing it as a missed opportunity to cut inequality.

The First Minister has called for an end to so-called Care Tax charges — for at home or non-residential community care services — incurred by terminally ill patients in the final six months of life.

Ms Baillie believes that the Scottish Government should and could go further and took the opportunity to pay tribute to her colleague Gordon Aikman who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and has been tirelessly campaigning to end what’s been described as the “postcode lottery” of care charges. She said: “It would be wonderful if his tragic diagnosis could leave a lasting, positive legacy for vulnerable people across Scotland.

“Those under 65, living at home, increasingly have to contribute a higher proportion of their benefits towards care costs.

“This care tax is a tax on the most vulnerable members of our communities. It’s a tax we can and should abolish.” Commenting on the rest of the SNP’s Programme for Government Jackie Baillie also attacked the government on their stance on the living wage.

She said: “We believe the Scottish Government should promote better pay with a living wage strategy and a living wage unit.

“In 2014 alone the SNP voted against the living wage no fewer than five times.

“The people of Scotland deserve better than that.” The SNP’s Stuart McMillan welcomed the programme for government, which also includes a number of priorities such as; a target set for colleges and universities of 20 per cent of their students coming from Scotland’s poorest communities, a £30m boost for the Help to Buy housebuilding scheme, delivering an increase in the number of hours of free childcare, a bill that will allow carers more influence on services that affect them, and the extension of the rates relief bonus scheme for small businesses for a further five years if the SNP wins the next Scottish election.

The West Scotland MSP told the Reporter: “The Scottish Government will focus on creating a new, fairer and more prosperous society.

“This Programme for Government highlights the willingness of the new First Minister and her Scottish Government to work for the many, and not the few.

“The importance placed on childcare and helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education is to be welcomed.

“Alongside this, more power for carers over the services that affect them is an important step in the right direction.”