THE SNP has accused Scottish Labour of sitting on the “political sidelines” ahead of Tuesday’s crunch Budget vote.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison made the claim after securing deals with the Greens, Lib Dems and Alba parties that leave the Budget’s progress into law a virtual certainty.
Weeks of negotiations with the three parties have won a full £16.7 million spending boost from Ms Robison’s original £64.3 billion spending plans, securing additional cash for a regional pilot of a £2 bus fare cap, extra cash for addictions and hospice services, and to lower the means test for free school meals from S1-S3.
The new Scottish Parliament looks set to continue a cycle of managerial tinkering while public services face the axe, writes STEPHEN LOW
As Scotland heads to the polls, the main parties offer variations on the same script, says MATT KERR


