SCOTTISH Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is facing calls to ditch austerity and offer a “real change of direction” in tomorrow’s Budget.

The SNP government will need the help of at least one other party to pass its Budget in the Scottish Parliament. It has often enjoyed support from the Greens, but the small party said this week it would require “meaningful” reforms to council tax.

Scottish Labour called on ministers to offer beefed-up council funding, a rise in social security payments and a rail fares freeze. The opposition party also called for a new women’s health fund and the reversal of cuts to community policing.