We chose fairness over narrow self-interest.. unlike Tory austerity

HERE’S a simple fact for you – for millions of people, Scotland is now the lowest taxed part of the UK.

In Scotland, we’ve made our choice. We will protect the poorest in society and ask those with the most to shoulder a little more of the burden.

Derek Mackay and the SNP Government faced difficult choices in our Budget, thanks to continued Westminster austerity which has delivered a cut of £200million to Scotland for this year alone, and the Tories’ disastrous pursuit of their hard Brexit.

When faced with difficult choices, we’ve seen UK governments place the burden on the backs of Scotland’s poorest and most vulnerable. We’ve seen the politics of Tory divide and rule.

So the SNP Government’s decisions on taxation allow us to plug the gaping shortfall in Scotland’s budget, placed there by the UK Government, they allow us to make a real investment in our NHS – £400million – and put even more money directly into the hands of headteachers.

But this budget wasn’t just about our creation of a fairer tax system for Scotland; it was about continuing on the course we set when we were first elected, building a fairer and more prosperous Scotland for all.

So, we’ve ended the public sector pay cap – the only part of the UK where that is happening. We have increased the Carers Allowance, put £50million into tackling child poverty, invested in ensuring every home has superfast broadband, continued our expansion of early learning and childcare and more.

Of course, there is still a long way

MASTERCHEF winner Gary Maclean has been appointed as Scotland’s first national chef.

He’s been tasked with celebrating Scottish produce and teaching communities how to make good, affordable food. I can’t be the only one thinking maybe he could come round and help out on Christmas Day ?

to go to get to that fairer country we all want and there is still much left to do. We believe this Budget will help us to make real progress but we want to hear the thoughts of other parties so we can move forward.

Sadly, from Ruth Davidson’s Scottish Tories, this budget was not met with the constructive opposition she promised but with opposition for opposition’s sake.

Her finance spokesman, Murdo Fraser rose in Holyrood to exclaim his horror at the idea some might be asked to pay a little more to protect the public services we all use.

Roars of cheers came from the Tory benches as he spoke. So where were those voices when the Tory Government cut disability benefits by £30 a week? Where was the condemnation when Davidson supported the abhorrent rape clause, claiming it was merely about “ticking a box” on a form? Where is the condemnation regarding Westminster’s benefit sanctions regime, which is leaving parents unable to properly feed their kids and forcing them to rely on food banks this Christmas? Where has there been any criticism?

If the only issues the Scottish Tories can be motivated by are preserving the Union and preventing the creation of a fairer tax system, that says it all. Davidson and her Tories can continue to carp from the sidelines and rubber stamp Theresa May’s austerity plans.

In the SNP, we’ll continue to deliver for Scotland.

Mhairi is an SNP MP