The Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) has been blasted by the Conservatives as First Minister John Swinney was accused of wasting the first week back at Holyrood on "issues that normal Scots don't care about."

Scottish Tory leader Russel Findlay has urged voters to grasp the "golden opportunity" next year to kick the SNP out of office.

In the first week back, the Scottish Government has also found room for a discussion on Gaza, despite international relations being a reserved matter.

There was also a continued focus on the possibility of a second referendum, something Mr Findlay called a "waste of time."

He told he Scottish Express: "As Parliament returns, SNP politicians still waste too much time on divisive issues like gender reform and their obsession with breaking up our country.

"That's why so many Scots feel disconnected from Holyrood because it does not focus on what matters to them and does nothing to improve their lives. Ahead of next year’s election, we will demand that parliament focuses on people’s real priorities.

"MSPs should be discussing how to grow the economy, fix the NHS, raise school standards, tackle the SNP housing crisis and reduce drug deaths.

"But instead, it seems that out-of-touch SNP ministers are content with Holyrood being little more than a performative parliament. After almost two decades of utter failure by the Nationalists, Scots have a golden opportunity to finally get rid of them."

Voters in Scotland have been urged to kick John Swinney out of Holyrood

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also taken aim at the SNP, calling the party's time in Holyrood a "disaster".

Mr Sarwar appeared on GB News after his party won the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, encouraging voters to ignore the "nonsense" from Reform UK and the SNP.

He told GB News: "Ultimately voters told us three things. One, they want rid of this SNP government that has done so much damage to our country over the past 18 years.

"I know that would be a feeling felt by many GB news viewers in Scotland, and the only way of getting rid of the SNP is by supporting Scottish Labour next year in the Scottish Parliament.

"Do not listen to the noise or the nonsense from Reform, or indeed some of the commentators on GB News who want to amplify the nonsense of reform. Instead, listen to what is happening here in Scotland. If you want rid of the SNP. Only we in Scottish Labour can do it.

"Secondly, they have rejected the politics of Nigel Farage and Reform. Third, they have also made clear that they do want a UK Labour government to go further and faster and demonstrably improving their lives. And I think that is a message we have heard loud and clear."

Russell Findlay MSP said voters had a "golden oppertunity"

Meanwhile, a new poll published during the week suggested Reform is on course to overtake Labour in the polls ahead of next year's Scottish Parliament election.

Some data has suggested Nigel Farage's party has already edged past Anas Sarwar's party in Westminster voting intention.

Councillor Thomas Kerr, who defected from the Tories to Nigel Farage's party, dismissed suggestions Reform should step aside, telling the Scottish Express: "The people who are now splitting the vote in Scotland are the Tories and Labour, who are not stepping aside for Reform."

He added: "We are firmly behind the United Kingdom. I'm a passionate unionist. I think we have the vision and the ideas to take on the SNP and to make sure we can defeat John Swinney and I would urge all Unionists to unite behind Reform UK."