SNP candidate Eilidh Munro has praised the Scottish Government’s ambition and clear priorities for Scotland in its £68 billion budget for 2026-27, with a focus on alleviating cost of living pressures and investing in families, the NHS, social care, and local businesses.
This afternoon, Finance Secretary Shona Robison outlined the Scottish Government’s budget plans, which include funding for breakfast clubs in all of Scotland’s primary and special schools, a non-domestic rates relief package worth £864m, and a record £17.6 billion in NHS frontline services, £2.4 billion for primary care services such as GPs, and £2.3 billion for social care.
‘A budget with a conscience’
Eilidh Munro, who is hoping to succeed Kate Forbes as the SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in May, said the plans demonstrate real hope and ambition.
“In its budget today, the SNP Scottish Government has shown significantly more ambition than its UK counterpart, taking bold and exciting decisions that will support our NHS and social care services, as well as helping parents with wraparound and summer childcare, something which I know from personal experience can put enormous strain on working parents.
“As the Finance Secretary made clear today, the decisions being made by the SNP mean that Scots have the best cost-of-living support package available anywhere in the UK.
“Those most in need of support have been prioritised in budget decision-making, and there is so much to feel positive about in the plans.
“I look forward to getting into the detail of what this budget means for the Highlands specifically and how our infrastructure, businesses, and public services will continue receiving the support they need, but I am pleased to see the 2% real terms increase in local authority funding, which will help our council deliver local services.
“This was a budget with a social conscience.
“Those who own private jets and properties worth £1 million will rightly be asked to shoulder more to help those who are less fortunate.
“Social care workers are to receive as a minimum, the real living wage, recognising their vital contribution.
“And record investment will be placed into building more affordable homes.
“All this builds on previous SNP policies including free prescriptions, free childcare, free school meals and the baby box, the abolition of peak rail fares, and lower income tax charges.”
Ms Munro concluded:
“In May, the SNP will be offering real ambition for Scotland, using the powers available through devolution to improve public services and put more money in people’s pockets.
“We will also continue making a strong case for independence, so that decisions on vital policy areas like energy are made by Scotland, for the benefit of the people Scotland.”
