Unite behind SNP budget, Shona Robison urges rivals

Finance secretary Shona Robison has urged rival parties to “unite” behind the SNP government’s budget.

Parliament will debate the tax and spend plan today.

It includes £22.5bn for health and social care, of which £17.6bn will go to NHS boards and resources to begin the promised rollout of walk-in GP clinics.

Other measures include cash to help oil and gas sector workers retrain, extra funding for colleges and universities, and an uplift to the Scottish Child Payment.

The Scottish Conservatives are expected to oppose the budget but Scottish Labour has signalled that it will abstain, making it far easier for the SNP’s minority administration to get its proposal through at stage one.

In a last-minute bid, Lib Dem economy spokesman Jamie Greene has called for the Scottish Government to meet his party “half-way”.

Greene said: “As a result of our negotiations to date, the draft budget contains money for key priorities like colleges, entrepreneurship and removing peak fares on the Northern Isles ferries.

“Not all of Scotland’s problems can be fixed in a single budget but the public expect politicians to act like grown-ups.

“Unlike Scottish Labour we will not let this budget pass while doing nothing to shape its priorities. Unlike the Scottish Conservatives we will not spit our dummies out and sit on the sidelines.

“To secure our support there are three key areas, where the government need to show us that they have moved on our priorities. These are business rates, social care and hospices.

“I hope that when I address the first minister tomorrow at First Minister’s Questions, we see movement on these three issues. If the first minister wants to do business on passing a sensible budget, he must meet me halfway. The clock is ticking to secure Liberal Democrat support.”

Today Robison, who will stand down at the election, urged MSPs to support her plan.

She said: “This is a budget focused on the priorities of the people of Scotland, delivering improvements in our NHS and supporting people with the cost of living.

“The budget will improve access to healthcare with funding for a network of 15 walk-in GP clinics open seven days per week and provides real help for families with the cost-of-living crisis. Our proposals also mean that 55 per cent of people in Scotland can expect to pay less income tax than in the rest of the UK. 

“Our determination to eradicate child poverty is also underlined in this budget with an increase in the Scottish Child Payment and the introduction of a premium payment of £40 for eligible children under one. 

“The budget will make lives better for people in Scotland and I would urge parliament to back it today.”