THE SNP has called for Jo Swinson to correct figures that they said make "false and patronising" claims about inequalities in Scottish education.

The deputy leader of the LibDems, who has confirmed her bid to become leader of the party, claimed that just 4% of children growing up in Govan were going on to university.

In fact, at the last count in 2016/17, 23.68% of children at Govan High School went on to higher education, and 94% went on to positive destinations including higher education, further education and employment.

Local SNP MP for Glasgow South West, Chris Stephens, called on Jo Swinson to issue an immediate retraction for the false claims.

He said: "Jo Swinson must issue a full retraction for using fake figures to make false and patronising claims about children in Glasgow.

“It’s no wonder that the Liberal Democrats have such a bad reputation for misleading people, when their deputy leader is willing to make bogus claims on national television to deflect from her own appalling record propping up the Tories in government.

“Instead of doing down the achievements of Glasgow families, Jo Swinson should be apologising for her shameful record with the Tories hiking university tuition fees to £9000 a year, scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance, imposing the Bedroom Tax, and making deep cuts to social security support for low income families.

“People in Scotland will never forgive the Liberal Democrats for the damage they did getting into bed with the Tories to advance their own Ministerial careers and pay packets.

“Improving attainment is a priority for the SNP government, which has abolished tuition fees, protected the Education Maintenance Allowance, and invested hundreds of millions in tackling the attainment gap and widening access to education. That’s why people are putting their trust in the SNP to take Scotland forward.”

John Swinney said Swinson's comment was an "appalling insult to the pupils and staff at at schools in the Govan area who are achieving so much".

Glasgow City Council’s director of education, Maureen McKenna, said the most recently available figures showed that 13% of pupils leaving Govan High School went on to university, while 24% went on to higher education.