Nats 'plead poverty' while £412m unspent

THE Scottish Government failed to spend £412million from its budget in 2023-24, despite complaining about being cash-strapped and making a series of cuts.

- By David Walker Scottish Politics Reporter

This was Nicola Sturgeon’s last period as First Minister and featured more pain for families.

John Swinney - then acting Finance Secretary — raised the higher and top rates of income tax by 1p in the pound. The top rate threshold was lowered.

At the time, SNP ministers claimed the hikes were needed to fund a “social contract” with Scots, including benefits such as the Scottish Child Payment.