John Swinney pledges to deliver on Scotland’s priorities in the Budget
Scotland’s First Minister has said his government has “listened carefully to the priorities of the people of Scotland” and his upcoming Budget will deliver on them.
John Swinney said the statement of the government’s tax and spending plans, which will be published by Finance Secretary Shona Robison on Wednesday, will have the “things people care most about at its heart”.
Mr Swinney said it would be a Budget for “delivery” and for “hope” and would “set us up to win big in the years to come”.
Unlike the UK Government, we will deliver a Scottish Budget that puts the people of Scotland first
He said: “This week we will publish a Budget which delivers progress for Scotland, by Scotland – laying the foundations for our long-term success.
“We have engaged constructively with organisations and businesses across the country and have listened carefully to the priorities of the people of Scotland and this is a Budget that will deliver those priorities.
“That is why it is a Budget not just for Scotland, but by Scotland, with the things people care most about at its heart.
“People across the country were saying loudly and clearly that the UK Government’s abandonment of older people on the winter fuel payment was unacceptable.
“We listened and my Budget will take action to fix the problem in Scotland by delivering a £41 million package of support this winter, and universal pension age winter heating payments from next year.
“Unlike the UK Government, we will deliver a Scottish Budget that puts the people of Scotland first, reflecting my determination to deliver on the priorities of the people of Scotland.”
“It will be a Budget for delivery, showing we have heard the issues people have accessing public services and taking action to address the problems.
“It will be a Budget for hope, putting in place the investment that will set us up to win big in the years to come, creating more and better jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets.”
The SNP needs support from at least one other political party at Holyrood to pass the Budget Bill.
Mr Swinney was speaking ahead of a visit to Vintage Vibes in Edinburgh, an organisation working to support older people by tackling social isolation and loneliness through the projects they deliver.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The Chancellor’s Budget fixed the foundations of the UK economy and delivered change for working people in Scotland, protecting their payslips from higher taxes while delivering more money than ever before for Scotland’s public services.
“People in Scotland would rightly expect the Scottish Government to use its record £47.7 billion settlement to deliver on their priorities, including creating good jobs and making people in Scotland better off.”
Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: “Scots want to see John Swinney and the SNP showing some common sense for a change in this week’s Budget.
“They should start by undoing the damage of their tax rises which have punished hard-working people and struggling businesses.
“The Scottish Conservatives have outlined our bold and ambitious tax proposals.”
Among the Tories’ asks for a Budget deal are ditching the 20p and 21p rate of tax and implementing rates relief for leisure, hospitality and tourism businesses that would mean restaurants and pubs pay nothing.
