Scottish Parliament approves £33bn budget

The SNP government’s budget passed through Holyrood with the aid of the Tories and Lib Dems. The need for support of the budget prompted eleventh-hour spending commitments from the Lib Dems and Tories.

The Finance Minister, John Swinney told Holyrood that he found £45 million of extra spending money. The Lib Dems demanded £15 million extra for college bursaries and the Tories got £16 million for housing programmes.

Mr Swinney responded to criticism of the SNP’s plans outlining the government’s aim to protect public services and boost the economy in the face of a billion pound spending cut.

Mr Swinney said: “The Scottish Government has listened to the calls that others have made and we have responded in the spirit of building consensus across the Chamber.”

Labour voted against the proposals, which were branded as 'half measures', for failing to create more jobs and resolve housing problems. Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Johann Lamont said:

“The SNP has made housing the biggest loser from successive budgets and now we are seeing the consequences. The most recent figures show the second lowest number of new houses being built since 1981.

“The Housing Minister’s solution is to put up council tax on empty homes. But they are also cutting the grant to housing associations for new homes, which will push up rents and prevent new projects from going ahead."

Opposition parties recently voted against the Finance Minister’s plans for the 'Tesco Tax', a tax predicted to raise £30 million from supermarkets and large shops.

The Electoral Commission states that from 2003 the Labour Party received £10,942,808 from Lord Sainsbury and £99,056.50 from Tesco, while the Liberal Democrats received £35,684.50 from Tesco, and the Conservatives had £30,000 from Selfridges.

The two Scots Green MSPs voted against the budget, telling the Chamber that taxes need to be increased to sustain public spending. Patrick Harvie, MSP Glasgow, told The Journal: “The UK government's agenda of public service cuts and corporate handouts is a national scandal, and the Scottish Parliament should not simply follow suit.”

The Scottish Green Party’s opposition to the budget has prompted a package of alternative revenue and spending proposals. Mr Harvie said: “The Greens believe that these cuts will squeeze the most vulnerable Scots, and slash vital public services for everyone.

“We’d make £400m of changes, both by raising revenue from those who can afford to pay, and by saving money on wasteful vanity projects.

"It seems that only the Greens are interested in standing up to the Tory cuts, and in the election this May we'll be offering Scotland the only alternative.”