Door still open in budget talks despite Labour abstentions, says Swinney
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John Swinney’s door remains open for talks on his Government’s budget despite Labour’s plans to abstain in the final vote, the First Minister has said. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar announced on Tuesday that his party would abstain in the final vote on the tax and spending plans expected in late February, effectively guaranteeing it would pass.
Before the announcement, the SNP administration would have had to rely on votes from other parties, with either the Greens or the Lib Dems looking the most likely to back the budget. But speaking during a debate on the budget’s impact on child poverty – the issue Mr Swinney has identified as his driving mission as First Minister – on Tuesday, he indicated talks with opposition parties would not be concluded.
“I take nothing for granted about the budget process, so the discussions which have been constructively engaged in by the Liberal Democrats, by the Greens, by the Labour Party, by Alba and by the Conservatives, will continue to make sure there is a parliamentary majority for the budget,” he said.
“I am interested in taking as many members of Parliament with me as possible in putting in place a unifying budget that will meet the needs of the people of Scotland.”. The First Minister, however, added that he will not “rest easy” until he hears presiding officer Alison Johnstone announce that the budget Bill has passed.
