Scots to be hit harder in their pockets than ever before

This month, the SNP Government announced their spending plans for the coming year, as they finally pulled the curtain on the Scottish Budget for 2023 - 24.

Each year, this announcement is one of the most important events on the political calendar, as it reveals which public services will receive much-needed funding boosts, and which will see cuts.

This year, however, the stakes were even higher.

With the SNP Government receiving the largest block grant in history, and with the cost of living crisis set to continue, hopes were high that the SNP would produce a budget that truly delivers for public services across the country.

What we actually received was yet another budget that failed to deliver on its potential.

Services will be squeezed, businesses will suffer, and taxpayers will be hit in their pockets even harder than before.

Not content with Scotland already being the highesttaxed part of the UK, the SNP have decided to hit Scottish taxpayers harder still.

Over 1.4 million Scots are already paying more tax than they would elsewhere in the UK.

Following this budget, half a million Scots will see their taxes rise even further – including many teachers, doctors and police officers.

Seemingly no SNP budget is complete without councils being left with less money to run vital services.

When announcing the budget, Finance Secretary John Swinney proudly boasted that local government will receive over £500million in additional funding compared to last year.

Sadly, however, the reality is somewhat different.

Analysis by COSLA has shown that local government would need a funding increase of around £1 billion just to deal with the additional pressures they’re currently facing – which is nearly double what they’re receiving.

When the budget was first announced in Parliament, I was able to raise this issue with John Swinney directly, only to be met with yet more government spin and denial of responsibility.

Stirling Council alone was facing a funding shortfall of £17million for the coming year, and following this month’s budget, public services across Stirling have never been more at risk.

For years, local government has had to bear the brunt of SNP cuts. If this budget taught us anything, it’s that this isn’t about to change any time soon – and communities will be all the worse for it.

This SNP Government has the power to deliver effective public services across Scotland. More than ever this year, they had the funding to deliver this.

Once again, however, they have delivered nothing more than yet another missed opportunity which shows where their real priorities lie.

Due to the SNP’S coalition with the Scottish Greens, this budget will get the support it requires in Parliament.

However, if they believe this budget will have the backing of the Scottish public, the SNP will be sorely mistaken.

Councils left with less money to run vital services we depend on