A severe fine imposed on the Scottish government by the European Commission has sparked a spat between two of the country's senior politicians. Scotland is facing a £100 million penalty after farmers were revealed to have illegally claimed EU subsidies for ineligible land between 2007 and 2009.

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The farmers had claimed subsidies on scree-covered hillsides and land containing houses and roads; the government has set aside £30 million in anticipation of the fine, but this may not cover the amount imposed by the Commission, whose auditors discovered the foul play.

Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon initially accused rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead of knowing about the rule breaking in claiming for ineligible land. Farmers will not have to repay the money directly, but Lyon has demanded to know whether the government will raid the Rural Development Programme to come up with the next £50 million instalment of the fine.

In response, a spokesperson for Richard Lochhead told The Scotsman that Lyon’s accusations were a "spectacular own goal", as the misinterpretations over land use had occurred whilst Labour and the Liberal Democrats were in power.

The spokesperson went on to accuse Lyon in turn of “scaremongering”, stating that, of the £100 million, "Much of it is related to the European Structural Funds programme, which is not part of Mr Lochhead’s portfolio" before proclaiming, "Mr Lyon should get his facts straight."