Shona Robison, who is stepping down as an MSP at May's elections, urged her successor to be bold and ambitious in the debate on the Scottish Government Budget. She stated that the next Scottish Parliament must demand a more ambitious and flexible settlement with Westminster. Robison highlighted that there needs to be changes to the fiscal framework governing financial relations between Holyrood and Westminster, noting that the fiscal framework was reviewed in 2023, with meaningful progress made.
A further review of the fiscal framework is now beginning, and Robison argued that current arrangements mean many critical levers still sit with Westminster, and Holyrood remains heavily dependent on UK Government decisions. She also warned that funding growth for Scotland is set to slow significantly in the years ahead. On the Budget, which passed by 66 votes to 29 with 24 abstentions, Robison said it will continue to protect the majority of taxpayers in Scotland while supporting investment in public services.
She stated that the Scottish Government is maintaining its commitment to shield those on lower incomes, with more than half of taxpayers expected to pay less than they would elsewhere in the UK. ' The Tories voted against the Budget at Holyrood. ' The specific changes to the fiscal framework being proposed have not been detailed.