Labour query SNP plans for vital services

Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke MP Pamela Nash has accused the SNP of 'copy, paste, repeat' with this year's Scottish Budget.

- ROSS THOMSON

Finance Secretary Shona Robison delivered the 2026-27 budget in Holyrood on Tuesday afternoon.

Wealthy £1million-plus homeowners will have to shell out more in council tax to fund the £40-a-week Scottish Child Payment for the tots.

Tax changes will see a £50million giveaway from the government to workers on low pay.

Other Budget measures include breakfast clubs in every primary school and income tax relief for Scots on modest earnings.

The policies were announced by Finance Secretary Shona Robison in the government's final Budget before the election.

Tackling the cost-of-living crisis, cutting child poverty and protecting the NHS were the priorities cited by Robison in her tax and spending plans.

But Scottish Labour's Michael Marra claimed the Budget "does not meet the aspirations of the people of Scotland and it does not recognise their need for real change".

Mr Marra's view was echoed by Ms Nash who said: "With this Budget, it's clear the SNP are out of ideas. They are simply hitting copy and paste and serving up more of the same.

"After 19 years at the helm, the SNP have overseen chaos in our health service, decline in our education system and destruction in our justice system.