'Delight' for Swinney as Labour gives SNP Budget a 'free pass'

Sarwar branded 'weak' over plans to abstain

- DAVID WALKER

JOHN SWINNEY'S budget is now likely to pass after Scottish Labour announced plans to effectively abstain on his tax-andspending plans.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison will outline her proposals on Tuesday before a period of negotiations begin for a few weeks.

But the pressure is off after Anas Sarwar signalled that he wouldn't be looking to bring the budget down.

It makes it easier for the SNP to get away with proposals that are likely to include a series of pre-election freebies, and maybe even some independence spending.