THE Scottish Budget will be announced by Shona Robison this afternoon with the Finance Secretary having promised to put more money in people’s pockets.
It is scheduled to take place shortly after 2pm on Wednesday afternoon with opposition parties having laid out their “red lines” to secure support.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Budget?
The Budget is the Scottish Government’s opportunity to set out its tax and spending plans for the upcoming financial year, which will run from April 1, 2025 until March 31, 2026.
It will be delivered by Robison with the speech expected to run for around 30 minutes with opposition MSPs then being given an hour to respond.
A range of topics can be included, such as raising or lowering taxes as well as big decisions on spending in areas controlled by Holyrood such as schools and health or other public services.
The speech is accompanied by a Budget bill, which sets everything out in a legal document.
How can the SNP pass the Budget?
Currently, the SNP govern as a minority with the party having 62 MSPs in Parliament following the expulsion of John Mason from the party.
The party has previously relied on the support of the Scottish Greens but this is no longer guaranteed following the collapse of the Bute House Agreement.
Mason meanwhile has previously said he would “do all I can to support the SNP” despite no longer being a member.
Assuming it has Mason’s support, the SNP would need the votes of two opposition MSPs to reach a majority of 65 or they may have to reduce the numbers by convincing others to abstain.
Should the vote end in a tie at stage one, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone would have the casting vote.
Normally, she would vote with the “status quo” and allow the bill to proceed and let talks continue.
However, in this case the “status quo” would be the existing arrangements, meaning Johnstone would vote the new Budget down.
Could an election be called?
In the event the Scottish Parliament is deadlocked, there is the possibility an election could be called.
At the end of November, we told how John Swinney (below) said the SNP are ready for an early election should the Scottish Budget fail to pass.
Asked if his party were ready for the possibility, he said: “If it was necessary then we would have to be” before adding “yes, aye, we are” when pressed further.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the Budget, the First Minister said: “We’re going into this Budget process in good faith.
“The Government will set out tomorrow a Budget which is a product of an extensive amount of dialogue and discussion with all political parties.
“But also with multiple stakeholders in Scotland, in the business community, in local government and in the third sector.”
What are parties asking for?
Any deal the SNP secures will likely come with the Scottish Greens or the Scottish LibDems – with both having set out demands to secure support.
Speaking on Tuesday, a Scottish Greens spokesperson said funding for climate projects and council budgets would be their “red lines”.
We also revealed how the party denied it had gone back on dropping their independence “red line” in supporting the Budget.
The Herald on Sunday previously reported however that a deal was close between the SNP and Scottish LibDems – although Alex Cole-Hamilton (below) has said he could not back any Budget which contained any spending on independence.
However, on Tuesday, although Cole-Hamilton said there had "definitely" been movement in talks between the two parties, he said the Scottish Government was "going to have to move some mountains" if it wants support from his party.
He said: "It is fair to say there is still some considerable distance to travel and they are going to have to pull out all the stops to persuade us."
The Alba Party, who have one MSP in the chamber in Ash Regan, previously said the introduction of universal free school meals would be needed to secure support.
Scottish Labour have called for increased funding to be spent on cutting NHS waiting times and improving education.
Swinney has already indicated that money for the NHS will be a key priority in his Government’s plans.
Elsewhere, the Scottish Tories have called for swingeing tax cuts to the tune of almost £1 billion although Russell Findlay has conceded these are “unlikely” to be taken on.
