SCOTTISH Greens demanded today that the SNP government impose a “mansion tax” if it wants the party to support Scotland’s December Budget.

The SNP has long relied on Scottish Green aid to pass its Budgets at Holyrood, either through abstention or support.

But after the acrimonious breakown of the parties’ formal coalition earlier this year, the prospect of a Budget not being passed and an early election being called is focusing minds.

The Scottish Greens have now demanded changes to the land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT), Scotland’s equivalent of stamp duty, which would see a 12 per cent levy kick in on sales over £650,000 rather than the present £750,000, and a new 15 per cent band for properties selling for over £1 million.

On the eve of the Scottish Greens confernce in Greenock this weekend, the party’s finance spokesman Ross Greer said: “There is more than enough wealth in Scotland to end child poverty tomorrow, but far too much of it is in the hands of a very small number of extremely rich people and big companies.

“A mansion tax could be introduced by the SNP now. It would raise crucial funds we could use to tackle child poverty and the climate emergency.

“The Scottish Greens have already delivered an income tax system for Scotland which raises £1.5 billion more every year for public services like our schools.

“If they want Green votes to pass the government’s Budget, they know the price of our support.”

SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison responded: “The Scottish government has taken a progressive approach to the setting of rates and bands for residential LBTT reflecting the specifics of the Scottish housing market.

“Decisions on the rates and bands of LBTT are taken as part of the Scottish Budget process.”