Police funding has to be at forefront of SNP budget

THE Scottish Government's budget will be unveiled on January 13 next year, almost seven weeks after Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to reveal her tax and spending plans at Westminster.

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Nobody is quite sure why there is such a long delay, but most Holyrood observers are expecting pre-election giveaways from the SNP.

As usual, there are already many competing demands for more money from across the public sector.

But surely Police Scotland has got the strongest case for an increase in funding from Finance Secretary Shona Robison.