LibDems in £400m demand over Budget

THE Scottish Liberal Democrats have asked for £400 million of investment in return for helping the SNP pass its Budget.

Leader Willie Rennie last night demanded £70m more for schools, £93m for colleges, and £20m for the police, as well as cash for mental health and cheaper transport to the LibDem seats of Orkney and Shetland.

The move marks the start of serious horse-trading between the SNP and the other parties in the run-up to the crunch vote at the end of February.

The Government has 63 votes, two short of a majority, making it reliant on at least one other party at Holyrood to support its budget bill, or to abstain.

With the Tories and Labour politically unacceptable to the Nationalists, Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is likely to deal with either the LibDems (five votes) or the Scottish Greens (six).

However, Green demands for more radical taxes may be a problem for the SNP.

In a letter to Mr Mackay, Mr Rennie said he was asking for “a tight and prioritised list that has the long term future of the Scottish economy at its heart”.

He said it was smaller than the proposals in the LibDem manifesto last year, which suggested raising an extra £500m by adding a penny to every rate of income tax.

Mr Rennie said he was ready to discuss the matter further with Mr Mackay, but said LibDem support would require “significant and substantial change” on the issues his party had identified.

A Government spokesman said: “The Draft Budget prioritises growth and public services and includes new investment in healthcare, education and local services, combined with support for jobs through lower business rates.

“We will continue to have discussions with the different parties.”