DEREK Mackay has stated that he will work to build a consensus among MSPs to help see his Budget through Parliament ahead of a final vote, expected to take place in February.
The 2019-20 draft Budget was announced last Wednesday and will need support from other parties in order to be passed, given the SNP’s position as a minority government.
And the Scottish Greens, who the SNP have previously relied upon for legislative support since the 2016 Scottish Parliament elections, responded with fury over the omission of council tax reform from the Finance Secretary’s announcement.
Labour were critical of what they perceived to be Mackay’s reluctance to tax higher earners, whilst the Scottish Tories called the Scottish Government too eager to tax the well-off and said that they’d only back the Budget if the SNP shelved a second independence referendum.
The question of another referendum was the sticking point for the Scottish LibDems, who walked away from preliminary talks over the issue.
Scottish Labour initially pledged their backing on the condition that Mackay introduces a £5 per week increase in child benefit and mitigates the Tory Government’s two-child cap on tax credits.
They also demanded a freeze on Scotrail fares in the New Year, as week as the creation of a women’s health fund to further research and support for women-specific conditions, and a £10 million cash injection into discretionary housing payments to help tackle the roll-out of Universal Credit.
The spending plans announced by the Finance Secretary include a £730m investment in health and care services, with a further £180m boost aimed at raising attainment in schools.
The document also outlined a £5 billion infrastructure programme and an £11.1bn local government settlement.
Mackay said the Scottish Budget “seeks to strengthen and prepare our economy for the future, whatever our relationship with the EU, and, importantly, provides businesses in Scotland with much-needed economic stability”.
He added: “In the coming weeks and months, I will work with all parties to build consensus for our spending plans in Parliament and ensure we pass this Budget which will help protect Scotland’s future prosperity.”
The Finance Secretary went on to reaffirm the Scottish Government’s pledge to shore up economic defences against Brexit.
He said: “Our spending plans for 2019-20 include a commitment to mitigate the risks of Brexit as best we can, to enable our economy to thrive in any circumstances.
“If leaving the EU can be avoided, those resources currently being directed towards essential preparations can be reinvested into our public services and economy.
Responding to Mackay, a spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: “It’s good to hear the Finance Secretary say he’ll work with others but he’s known for months what the Greens’ precondition for talks is. There’s huge public support for making local tax fairer and giving councils greater options for raising funds to protect front line services such as schools and social care. The ball remains in the Scottish Government’s court.”
A Scottish Labour Spokesperson said: “The draft Budget as it stands doesn’t take any meaningful action on poverty and the independent experts at the Scottish Parliament Information Centre say it will mean a £319m cut to council budgets.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel