THE Scottish Greens and Alba Party have expressed concern over the lack of the Scottish Government's commitment to independence following the announcement of the Scottish Budget.
The Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, said her Budget “offers hope for Scotland’s future” for the coming year as she estimated 60% of Scots will be better off because they live in Scotland.
Robison unveiled her tax and spending plans for 2025/26 to MSPs on Wednesday where she outlined key measures like the mitigation of the impact of the two-child benefit cap, free school meals being extended and committed to ensure the Winter Fuel Payment stays universal.
However, Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said his party would be “disappointed” if the SNP “gave into” the demands by Unionist parties who say they cannot talk about independence.
“In 2021, the people of Scotland elected a pro-independence parliament and a pro-independence government. There is no reason for that government to stop the work it is doing to build the case for an independent Scotland,” he said.
“We would be very disappointed if the SNP gave into the illiberal and undemocratic demands of the Unionist parties who have said our parliament cannot even talk about independence if they are to get backing for their Budget. I have no doubt that a lot of people across the wider Yes movement would be too.
“If the SNP are prepared to make changes, we are prepared to work with them to build a progressive budget for a fairer, greener Scotland, but it must be one that supports our climate and the vital local services that we all rely on.”
First Minister John Swinney currently leads a minority government, so needs the backing of at least one opposition party to get a budget passed.
Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton previously said that his party would refuse to support any Budget which included independence spending.
The Scottish Greens told The National previously that they would not support a Budget from which this “modest sum” was cut.
Alba’s sole MSP and Holyrood leader Ash Regan said she is willing “to help the Scottish Government get to the finishing line” and pass its Budget if it is prepared to agree to certain requests.
Listing out her party's demands, Regan said she wanted the Scottish Government to step in to mitigate Westminster’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment and fund universal provision of free school meals.
However, Alba’s general secretary, Chris McEleny, said the Scottish Government has “flown a white flag” with its Budget and that the independence movement is “right” to ask what its strategy to deliver independence is.
“The people of Scotland were promised a referendum after the last Scottish elections, no ifs, no buts, and there was a clear democratic mandate for one and it wasn’t delivered,” he said.
“If reports are correct, then the Scottish Government has flown a white flag on that constitutional imperative when it should have been flying a Lion Rampant.
“Alba Party’s Holyrood leader Ash Regan has been working constructively with the Government to deliver priorities such as keeping pensioners warm and providing free school meals to primary school children.
“If the Scottish Government has decided to concede that there is no longer a need for government to prepare the case for independence, then the independence movement is right to ask what its strategy to deliver independence is.”
The draft budget will be scrutinised in the Scottish Parliament over the coming weeks, with a vote expected in February.
