THE SNP-Green Scottish government’s budget passed its final vote today despite widespread opposition inside and outside the chamber.
Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison began her address to Parliament offering an olive branch to councils, who had earlier this month declared themselves “in dispute” with the Scottish government over the imposition of a council tax freeze.
Councils argued the £147m offered for acquiescence with the freeze fell short, and demanded flexibility to raise tax by 5 per cent while keeping the cash, and laying claim to an extra £62.7m in “Barnett consequentials” resulting from additional spend in England.
Ms Robison refused to be moved on the freeze, but she did confirm that the £62.7m would go to local government, adding that she hoped it would “remove any remaining impediment” to freezing council tax for the 16 councils yet to set a budget.
In closing, she said: “I have been clear of the fiscal challenge we face as a result of the UK government’s failure to invest in services and infrastructure.
“I’ve called on the Chancellor to rectify this in the Spring budget next week and I continue to press the UK government to increase capital funding to Scotland.
“This is a budget which in tough times protects the vulnerable, invests in public services, grows our economy and tackles the climate emergency.”
Ross Greer, finance spokesman for the Greens, who have backed every SNP budget since 2016, threw his weight behind his coalition partner.
He said: “Despite the serious constraints and limitations imposed by Westminster, we have delivered a budget with Green values at its core.
“We are investing in our climate and our communities and continuing our work to build a better future for people and planet.”
Others were less impressed however. The FBU’s John McKenzie warned that “a small increase in funding it is nowhere near what is required to reverse a decade of cuts,” which have seen 1,200 firefighter jobs lost.
Scottish Labour’s finance spokesman Michael Marra told MSPs: “It is a budget based on the economically and fiscally illiterate assumption that income tax can be used to plug the hole left by the SNP’s failure to grow the economy.
“This is a budget that hikes the taxes for nurses struggling with the mortgage while the SNP demand tax cuts for energy giants struggling with unprecedented profits running in the billions.
”It’s a budget in which Scots will pay more and get less in return.”
