Swinney taking ‘nothing for granted’ on Budget despite Labour plans to abstain
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John Swinney has insisted he is not taking it for granted that his government’s Budget will be passed by Holyrood – although the First Minister said Labour’s announcement that it would not vote against it meant he is “more confident” the tax and spending plans for next year will be approved.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar confirmed on Tuesday his party would abstain when the budget comes before Holyrood for key votes next month – though he added Labour MSPs would vote for it if the Scottish Government ends the two-child cap on some benefits in April this year.
The Scottish Budget proposes to effectively scrap the benefit cap – which means parents can only claim some benefits for their first two children, with no payments made for any subsequent additions to their family – by mitigating the policy north of the border.
But Mr Swinney insisted such a change “practically cannot be done” by this April. The SNP leader told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme the government would seek to make the change “as fast as we can”, with the First Minister adding: “If we can do it earlier than April 2026 we will do so.”.
But he said ministers had to make the financial provision for the policy – which experts have said will cost £155 million in 2026-27 before rising to £198 million by 2029-30 – as well as put the necessary systems in place for the change. Mr Swinney said: “I would love to be able to lift the two-child limit in April of this year. I would love it more than anything else, because it would help me on my agenda of eradicating child poverty.
