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Labour urge MSPs to reject Scottish government budget plans Labour urge MSPs to reject Scottish government budget plans
(about 11 hours later)
Scottish Labour is to lead a debate at Holyrood urging opposition parties to reject the government's current budget proposals.Scottish Labour is to lead a debate at Holyrood urging opposition parties to reject the government's current budget proposals.
Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is negotiating with opposition MSPs to win backing for his budget.Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is negotiating with opposition MSPs to win backing for his budget.
The Greens and Lib Dems have outlined changes which could win them over, on tax and spending respectively.The Greens and Lib Dems have outlined changes which could win them over, on tax and spending respectively.
MSPs will vote on a Labour motion stating the parliament does not support the draft budget "in its current form".MSPs will vote on a Labour motion stating the parliament does not support the draft budget "in its current form".
With the SNP a minority government, Mr Mackay will need a handful of opposition members to at least abstain in order to get his budget through Holyrood.With the SNP a minority government, Mr Mackay will need a handful of opposition members to at least abstain in order to get his budget through Holyrood.
There will be separate votes on the tax and spending proposals in February. The draft budget bill will be published on Thursday, and there will be separate votes on the tax and spending proposals in February.
Scottish Labour has put forward a debate seeking a cross-party consensus against the government's budget proposals.Scottish Labour has put forward a debate seeking a cross-party consensus against the government's budget proposals.
Deputy leader Alex Rowley said members had "the opportunity to send a message on the SNP's austerity budget".Deputy leader Alex Rowley said members had "the opportunity to send a message on the SNP's austerity budget".
He said: "The SNP in government has all been about spin and the short term, but Scotland's sluggish economy is because of a decade of cuts to education budgets. Our NHS is overwhelmed because care for the elderly has been underfunded.He said: "The SNP in government has all been about spin and the short term, but Scotland's sluggish economy is because of a decade of cuts to education budgets. Our NHS is overwhelmed because care for the elderly has been underfunded.
"Labour has an alternate plan that would use the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest in our public services and grow our economy.""Labour has an alternate plan that would use the new powers of the Scottish Parliament to invest in our public services and grow our economy."
The finance secretary has indicated he could "not necessarily" find common ground with the Conservatives or Labour over the budget, but said discussions with the Lib Dems and Greens had shown "room for manoeuvre".The finance secretary has indicated he could "not necessarily" find common ground with the Conservatives or Labour over the budget, but said discussions with the Lib Dems and Greens had shown "room for manoeuvre".
The Lib Dems have asked for "substantial changes", with up to £400m of extra spending on mental health, education, the police and transport.The Lib Dems have asked for "substantial changes", with up to £400m of extra spending on mental health, education, the police and transport.
The Greens meanwhile have asked for changes to the income tax in return for their backing, which they say will "make the tax system fairer, reduce inequality in our society and generate additional funds for public services".The Greens meanwhile have asked for changes to the income tax in return for their backing, which they say will "make the tax system fairer, reduce inequality in our society and generate additional funds for public services".
Ahead of the debate, Labour highlighted figures in the budget showing the core funding going into council budgets falling by £327m, which they said was "cutting into our future". Each of the parties lodged amendments for the debate highlighting these positions, while the Conservatives entered one noting their position that "families and businesses in Scotland should not be taxed more than those elsewhere in the UK".
Meanwhile Mr Mackay lodged an amendment deleting the Labour motion in full, and noting that "government amendments to the budget reflecting the outcome of discussions with other parties can be made at any time during the scrutiny process", highlighting "constructive" discussions ongoing.
'Just wrong''Just wrong'
Ahead of the debate, Labour highlighted figures in the budget showing the core funding going into council budgets falling by £327m, which they said was "cutting into our future".
However, the SNP has said this does not take into account funding which will go direct to schools and health and social care partnerships, which they said would boost local services by several hundred million pounds.However, the SNP has said this does not take into account funding which will go direct to schools and health and social care partnerships, which they said would boost local services by several hundred million pounds.
Mr Mackay has said Labour are "just wrong" about the budget and are working in a "Better Together alliance" with the Conservatives.Mr Mackay has said Labour are "just wrong" about the budget and are working in a "Better Together alliance" with the Conservatives.
He said: "What the Labour Party are proposing to do is vote with the Tories against the Scottish budget, and in that budget we're proposing to allocate hundreds of millions of pounds more for our public services - to the NHS, to education and to local services.He said: "What the Labour Party are proposing to do is vote with the Tories against the Scottish budget, and in that budget we're proposing to allocate hundreds of millions of pounds more for our public services - to the NHS, to education and to local services.
"It's Labour that will be passing on austerity to the households of Scotland."It's Labour that will be passing on austerity to the households of Scotland.
"Scotland is a wealthy and successful nation. The threat to Scotland's economy right now is Brexit and the Scottish government has set out a plan to put Scotland in the best possible position.""Scotland is a wealthy and successful nation. The threat to Scotland's economy right now is Brexit and the Scottish government has set out a plan to put Scotland in the best possible position."
Analysis by BBC Scotland political reporter Philip SimAnalysis by BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim
The government will probably lose this vote. The government will probably lose this vote - with the usual caveat of everyone turning up and pressing the right buttons. But that is unlikely to have any impact on the budget process.
Labour have drafted their motion in such a way to ensure support from the other opposition parties; none of them do support the budget "in its current form".Labour have drafted their motion in such a way to ensure support from the other opposition parties; none of them do support the budget "in its current form".
But Mr Mackay has acknowledged that. He knows he needs to move in some way towards the opposition parties; that's the point of the ongoing negotiations.But Mr Mackay has acknowledged that. He knows he needs to move in some way towards the opposition parties; that's the point of the ongoing negotiations.
The debate itself is likely to follow a familiar format; there are enough different sets of figures in the 178-page draft for all sides to craft arguments.The debate itself is likely to follow a familiar format; there are enough different sets of figures in the 178-page draft for all sides to craft arguments.
For example Labour pointing to one set of numbers to show core council budgets falling, while the SNP point to another set to show local services funding on the rise. The same dance will repeated with the Tories over Scotland's funding from Westminster. For example, Labour point to one set of numbers to show core council budgets falling, while the SNP point to another set to show local services funding on the rise. The same dance will repeated with the Tories over Scotland's funding from Westminster.
In terms of who is more likely to partner up with the SNP in the final budget votes, at the moment the Lib Dems seem the more likely candidate.In terms of who is more likely to partner up with the SNP in the final budget votes, at the moment the Lib Dems seem the more likely candidate.
The Greens want to see changes over tax - and Mr Mackay is unlikely to budge on tax. The Lib Dems are asking an awful lot in terms of spending - but there is common ground on which to work. The Greens want to see changes over tax - and Mr Mackay is unlikely to budge on tax. It's possible, but unlikely. The Lib Dems are asking an awful lot in terms of spending - but there is probably more common ground on which to work.