THE SNP have hit out at the LibDems after Willie Rennie refused to back Derek Mackay’s Budget unless the Scottish Government agrees to “a short cessation in their independence campaign”.

With no majority in the Scottish Parliament, the SNP can only pass their fiscal plans for the next year with votes from one of the other Holyrood parties.

Mackay is due to present his third Budget to MSPs on Wednesday.

It’s unlikely he’ll be able to find much enthusiasm for his proposals from Tory or Labour MSPs.

Last year talks went down to the wire, until the Greens offered their support in return for more money for local government.

In a bid to convince the LibDems, Mackay and Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes met with Rennie “to explore what could be done”.

Rennie said his party had been willing to “step in to help address the problems that have been mounting since the SNP came to power 11 years ago”. But the talks ended when the SNP politicians “could not agree to even a short cessation in their independence campaign”.

Rennie added: “That was unacceptable to us. The SNP’s own Growth Commission admits that their plans will see us poorer after breaking up. Public services will be hit.

“Breaking up is hard to do. The lessons of Brexit are the lessons for independence, so it is disappointing that the Scottish Government won’t learn and set aside their independence plans.”

In response, Scottish minister Paul Wheelhouse tweeted at Rennie: “Better contact Electoral Commission to advise them that you wish to drop ‘Democrat’ from your name on the ballot paper from now on.

“You don’t get to tell others they cannot argue for their beliefs in a democracy, Willie. It also shows the weakness of your argument.”

SNP MP Pete Wishart tweeted: “They turn down the ability to make things better for our fellow Scots because they are consumed with denying us a way out of the Brexit they say they want to prevent.”

Mackay said his Budget would prioritise health and education spending. In a statement, he said: “We will take forward discussions with others on this Budget in the weeks ahead and into the new year.

“However, it is incumbent on anyone proposing additional spending in one specific area to say how they would propose to fund the change.

“Brexit remains the biggest threat to Scotland’s prosperity. In every area of the country there will be businesses, organisations, communities, people and families who will suffer if we leave the single market and customs union, which is eight times larger than the UK market alone. That is why staying in the EU is in Scotland’s best interests.

“However, this Scottish Budget will not be defined by Brexit. It will set out how we help protect Scotland as far as we can from the damaging uncertainty of the UK Government’s Brexit policy and how we will deliver on our vision of a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland.”

Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie said if the government refused to support council tax reform then they would “be choosing to close off any chance of reaching a budget agreement with the Greens”.

Harvie added: “As MSPs we have been given a clear instruction from our party members that we can only enter formal Budget negotiations if there is meaningful progress on local tax reform to make a fairer system that protects services and cuts inequality.”

On Twitter, Labour’s James Kelly said it was time ⁦for Mackay⁩ to consider Labour proposals to end the two-child cap on tax credit, and freeze fares on train ticket prices.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Tories claimed new Treasury figures revealed that Mackay will receive a a cash boost of £1.6 billion.

MSP Murdo Fraser said this meant there was no need to hike tax rates.

“While the SNP can’t bring themselves to welcome it, this is a huge investment in Scotland.

“This shows that the SNP government has enough cash to support our ailing public services without asking taxpayers for more.”