DEPUTY first minister John Swinney has warned there has “never been a time of greater pressure” on public finances resulting from the fallout from Brexit, cost of living crisis and Covid recovery.
He has already set out cuts of at least £1.2 billion to the Scottish Government’s budget for the current year, and now faces the tricky task of balancing the books for the months ahead.
Here we look at what to expect when Swinney – who will present his first budget in seven years on Thursday as acting finance secretary while Kate Forbes continues maternity leave – unveils draft spending and tax plans for 2023-2024.
