CRITICS have branded Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that education is her top priority “farcical” after new analysis showed universities have lost out on more than £400 million worth of investment since she became First Minister.

Scottish Labour said figures provided by independent Holyrood researchers demonstrated the SNP has failed to protect the university resource budget every year since Ms Sturgeon took charge, with a total cost to the sector of £417 million.

It comes as the Scottish Budget enters its third and final legislative stage this week before the tax and spending plans come into force.

A last-minute deal between the SNP and the Greens secured £34 billion worth of financial plans for 2019/20, as well as opening the door to a wave of new local taxes.

Meanwhile, changes to income tax bills mean some middle-class Scots will be forced to pay around £1,400 more than south of the Border.

Labour said the Budget will mean further cuts to university funding, which is now 11 per cent lower in real terms than it was in 2014/15.

Iain Gray, the party’s education spokesman, said: “Investing in education is investing in our people and our economy, it should be the top priority for any government, and Nicola Sturgeon promised it would be hers.

“That claim is utterly farcical when stacked up next to the numbers. Universities have faced more cuts under the SNP.

“That’s bad for students in Scotland and for the future of the Scottish economy – but rather than reverse those cuts, the SNP-Green budget proposes even more.

“Labour would invest in our people, communities and public services by making the richest pay their fair share, starting with a 50p top rate of tax.”

Labour said figures provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) showed universities have missed out on more than £400m worth of investment in today’s prices between 2014/15 and 2019/20, because the higher education resource budget has failed to keep pace with inflation.

But a spokesman for higher education minister Richard Lochhead said: “Labour’s attack on university funding is puzzling given that they failed to demand a single extra penny for universities during their shambolic budget negotiations.

“We have invested over £1 billion in our universities every year since 2012-13. This will continue for 2019-20, supporting our institutions to remain attractive, competitive and truly excellent in global terms.

“Unlike the Labour party, we continue to protect the principle of free education – as well as widening access to university for people from the most deprived communities.”