SHONA Robison has taken aim at a Tory MSP after he suggested the Scottish Budget was a “damp squib for the north east”.
Scotland’s Finance Secretary delivered the Budget on Wednesday afternoon, including pledging a £150 million investment in offshore wind.
However, Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden claimed there was no “energy strategy and no just transition plan”.
He told the chamber: “The much trumpeted £500m just transition fund for the north east and Moray sees its annual allocation at a paltry £15.9m next year.
“And it will take decades to stump up at this rate. And of course it comes after the shameful abandonment last year of the £80m carbon capture fund.
“Surprise surprise. No sign of it again this year. Thousands of jobs across the north east are being lost while this devolved government defers, dithers and delays.
“So when will the SNP government deliver a just transition or will they admit it was another empty promise to the north east of Scotland.”
Robison was quick to hit back at Lumsden, saying she had never heard anybody sound so “raging” at a £150m investment in green energy for the north east.
She said: “If that’s Douglas Lumsden on a good day welcoming something, I wouldn’t like to see him on a bad day.
“This is money that will be welcomed by businesses across the north east of Scotland. And do you know why Douglas Lumsden’s so angry?
“He knows it to.”
Council tax clash
It wasn’t the only clash Robison was involved with in the chamber as she also hit out at Tory MSP for Alexander Stewart.
Stewart told the Finance Secretary: “Local government funding is in dire straits, local authorities have been warning for years that they are on the brink.
“In your statement you say that local government funding has increased yet the figures show the Budget is nowhere near what local government need Cabinet Secretary.”
He questioned how the Budget would allow councils to “thrive and survive”.
Robison was then told off for showing Stewart a letter from Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay which she said did not call for money for local government but for £1bn of tax cuts.
Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone intervened and Robison apologised for waving the letter towards Stewart.
Robison announced a “record” increase in funding for local authorities, and cautioning against sizeable tax rises.
“In 2025/26, the Scottish Government will increase local authority funding by more than £1bn,” she told MSPs.
“It will take their total funding to over £15bn, including £289m to give real-terms protection to the general revenue grant.
“While it will be for councils to make their own decisions with record funding, there is no reason for big increases in council tax next year.”
