Gloom and bust budget from floundering party

THE Budget yesterday was full of empty rhetoric and promises that must be paid for by somebody else... just like most of the SNP’s 19 long years in power here, in fact.

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Take the changes to two of Scotland’s six income tax bands, which were met with almost tearful applause from the Nat backbenchers when announced by Finance Secretary Shona Robison.

In fact, her tinkering will amount to a minimum saving of £11 for somebody on the National Living Wage and a maximum — yes, maximum — saving of £31.75 next year.

That’s less than £3 a month, hardly enough to buy a cup of coffee.

Meanwhile, middle and high-earners, who pay 69% of Scotland’s income tax, will be once again clobbered by fiscal drag.

Or take the two new council tax bands for million-pound plus properties.