The recent Scottish Budget reaffirms the SNP Government’s commitment to public services, supporting a growing, sustainable economy, and tackling poverty,

The SNP Government has delivered free prescriptions and university tuition, universal school meal provision for primary 1- 5 and the Scottish Child Payment (SCP), which will rise to £26.70 per child per week next April.

There is no equivalent in England under the Tories, or Wales under Labour, and the SCP has already lifted 90,000 Scottish children out of poverty.

Scottish Ministers committed £6,300million in social security for 2024/25, while investing £1billion from 2021-2026 in addressing the poverty-related educational attainment gap.

Poverty reduction improves lives and outcomes for young people, while enabling disabled people to live fuller, more independent lives, and assisting low-income families with the cost of living when they need it most.

Scottish tax policy is the UK’s most progressive and 58 per cent of Scotland’s taxpayers pay less than they would elsewhere in the UK. Those who earn the most contribute more in tax to protect those who are struggling.

A new income tax band of 45p will be added for those earning between £75,000 and £125,140 and the rate for top earners will increase to 48 per cent. Only one in 20 taxpayers will pay these tax rises.

For the 10th year in 17 under the SNP, council tax will be frozen next year to help with the cost of living. Councils will be compensated by over £140 million, equivalent to five per cent of annual council tax income.

Health is a priority, evidenced by the SNP Government increasing NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board’s funding by £33.3 million next year.

Of course, most financial decisions are not devolved. Control over VAT, corporation tax, inheritance tax, National Insurance, fuel, alcohol, tobacco duties, windfall levies and the minimum wage remain at Westminster. As such, Scotland’s ability to combat austerity is limited.

Scotland’s block grant funding from Westminster continues to decline. Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Scotland’s capital spending power will diminish even further, by 20 per cent over the next five years. This means even less money for new homes, schools, hospitals and road repairs.

The UK Government did provide a £10.8 million increase to the SNP Government’s health resources. However, even if one ignored inflation, this only covers the cost of running NHS Scotland for five hours a year!

Scotland, and struggling households across the UK, are given little consideration by the UK Government and this has led to much of the hardship we see today. Meanwhile, their financial incompetence means that interest paid by the UK Government on its £2.6 trillion debt is now £318 million per DAY of taxpayers’ money. This equates to six times Scotland’s entire annual NHS budget!

The SNP Government is doing all it can to protect Scotland’s people and services by refusing to follow the UK Government’s disastrous policies.

With independence, Scotland could do so much more; through fully releasing our potential and transforming our economy for the betterment of all.