The festive season is finally with us, and in Parliament’s last sitting the week before Christmas, the SNP unwrapped a budget which contained enough disappointment to last the entire year. 

As their mismanagement of the Scottish economy comes home to roost, SNP ministers have taken to the airwaves, continuing to insist that it’s all Westminster’s fault. 

But that is simply not the case. In a year in which the UK government is providing record funding to Scotland - over £43billion – Scottish ministers had choices to make, and if the fallout of this budget is anything to go by, it’s clear they made the wrong ones. 

First was the First Minister’s headline-grabbing decision back in October to announce a council tax freeze.

Council tax is used to fund local services, so the First Minister’s freeze means cuts to local council revenue of approximately £251million according to COSLA’s “Budget Reality” document.

That is less money for councils to spend on things like education or local transport. 

In fact, as a result of the government’s budget, whole swathes of essential services are now being cut to the bone.

Alongside council-funded services, the housing standards budget has been cut by over £200million, whilst there will be £189million less cash for building new homes next year.

Mental health services will also be cut, and funding for the ailing ferry network serving our island communities on Cumbrae and Arran has been cut by £5.5million.  

Second was Shona Robison’s decision to make working people pay for the cuts to these services.

Scotland is now the most harshly taxed part of the UK, despite receiving over £2,000 more spending per head from the UK government than the rest of the UK.  

The Finance Secretary has said this budget has increased tax for the very wealthiest, and those who have the ability to contribute more.

But in her bid to make up for the SNP’s wasteful spending of the past, it is teachers, NHS staff, and key public servants who will now be included in that category. 

Indeed, it is not the “top earners” who will be paying more, but anyone earning over £28,000 a year who will now pay more tax in Scotland than in England. Whilst the UK has just three tax bands, Scotland has six!

This sends the wrong message to the young, ambitious, and talented people thinking of making Scotland their home.

And for those already working hard for themselves and our public services in Scotland, how can it be right that they pay more, and get less back?  

The simple answer: it isn’t.  

I want to thank our firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and those countless other essential workers for their tireless dedication to their communities.

And with 2024 just round the corner, I look forward to continuing to stand up to this inept Scottish Government and standing up for our local community.