CONCERNS have been raised over the Scottish Budget after Sajid Javid quit amid the Tory party's cabinet reshuffle.
Javid’s resignation as chancellor of the exchequer leaves his successor, Rishi Sunak, with little more than three weeks to put together a Budget.
The new chancellor, who had been chief secretary to the Treasury since July, will be tasked with putting the finishing touches to a range of policies, including those aimed at “levelling-up” the regions and nations of the UK.
A spokesman would not confirm if it will still go ahead as planned on March 11, saying: "Preparations have been carried out already and will continue at a pace."
The PM's spokesman also confirmed reports that the two separate teams of special advisers at No 10 and the Treasury will merge into one to jointly advise the new Chancellor and the Prime Minister.
The new unit will ultimately be accountable to the PM.
Kate Forbes, who delivered the Scottish Budget after Derek Mackay resigned, said the UK Government’s decision to push its Budget back means the Scottish Government’s own spending plan is based on the Conservative Party’s election manifesto.
Forbes said waiting for after the March 11 Budget statement could have been “quite catastrophic” for the planning of social care and other key services.
However, she said the country’s finances will now be partly based on “assumptions” about cash that “might come, that we don’t know for a fact will come”.
“There’s a lot hanging on taking the Treasury at their word,” she added.
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