A BUDGET FOR SCOTS

Leader Anas says Reeves will provide more cash for services and challenges SNP not to blow it 'filling black hole' they created

- CHRIS MCCALL

CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves's first Budget will "end the era of austerity" and provide more cash for "vital" public services, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said.

With Sarwar saying there will be "more money and new money" for services, he challenged the Scottish Government to ensure any additional cash for Holyrood is not simply used to fill the "black hole" he said was caused by SNP "incompetence".

Ahead of tomorrow's Budget, the first by a Labour chancellor since 2009, Sarwar said it would be one "that delivers for Scotland".

Sarwar added: "This will be a Budget that does turn that page on 14 years of Tory chaos, division and decline and does those things that we promised in the election and be a real game changer for Scotland."

He spoke as children's charities, equalities groups and antipoverty campaigners joined forces to demand the UK Government use the Budget to end the two-child limit on some benefits.

Members of the End Child Poverty coalition in Scotland said the controversial policy must be scrapped to "prevent more harm to youngsters.

The cap, which means families can usually only claim some benefits for their first two children, has pushed 12,500 children across the UK into poverty since Labour won power on July 4, the groups claimed.

Speaking on behalf of members of End Child Poverty in Scotland, John Dickie said: "The two-child limit must be scrapped as a matter of utmost urgency.