Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay strikes Budget deal with Green party

SCOTTISH Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has struck a deal with the Green party to win support for his Budget.

Mr Mackay confirmed an agreement had been reached with the Scottish Greens ahead of Holyrood’s first vote on his draft tax and spending plans for 2018-19.

Details of the deal will be revealed to MSPs in the Scottish Parliament later this afternoon, but the Greens said they had secured extra cash for councils and more money for public sector workers.

A spokesman for the Scottish Greens said it amounted to “a substantial package of funding for local council services, teachers and other public sector workers”.

As the SNP no longer has a majority in Holyrood, the Scottish Government has to win support for its Budget from at least one other party.

https://www.sundaypost.com/news/scottish-news/ruth-davidson-i-am-not-going-to-replace-theresa-may/

But analysis by the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (Spice) showed that the draft Budget would reduce funding for local authorities by £157.

In meetings with Mr Mackay, the Greens lobbied for more money to be made available to councils to help protect local services.

The party, which has six MSPs in the Scottish Parliament, also wanted the Government to commit more cash to low carbon investment projects to tackle fuel poverty and progress new rail developments.

It is the second year in a row that the Greens have struck a deal with the SNP to back its Budget.

A Scottish Green spokesman said: “Opposition parties have a responsibility to engage constructively and make a difference for Scotland’s communities, and that’s exactly what Greens are doing.

“This is a substantial package of funding for local council services, teachers and other public sector workers, and will boost the green infrastructure our communities need for the future. On this basis, our MSPs are able to support the budget in tonight’s vote.”