The Lib Dems have claimed independence spending has been axed as part of a deal to back the Budget. Scottish party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the “red line” issue had been agreed after negotiations with the SNP Government.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison Budget is certain to become law after securing the support of the Greens and the anti-independence Lib Dems.
SNP Ministers have used the government machine to further the cause of independence and a series of papers have been produced over the last two years.
It is understood one more will come out before April, but Cole-Hamilton said there would be no more independence spending in 2025/26 – the period covered by the Budget.
He told the Record: “That has been secured. There is no budget line for independence. It’s the first time in this parliament that nothing will be spent on independence. There is no more independence papers. No independence ministry. That was a red line for us.”
At her own media briefing, Robison framed the issue differently to Cole-Hamilton. She said: “There is no dedicated budget for independence spend. It’s part of the work of the [government’s] constitution unit.”
But she refused to rule out the constitution unit working on independence in the next Budget year. She said the unit works on a “number” of areas.
Cole-Hamilton also said “Lib Dem pressure” led to the Government dropping its plans for a national care service, while conceding it was not entirely down to his own party’s influence.
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