ONE of the highlights of last week’s historic first budget of the new UK Labour Government was the delivery of a huge funding boost to Scotland’s public services.
The £47.7 billion record settlement for Scotland’s 2025-26 budget keeps Labour’s promise to Scotland to end the era of austerity by providing billions for investment in schools, hospitals and other vital services.
I welcome this long-overdue investment in our services and infrastructure.
But now the ball is very much in the Scottish Government’s court. The decisions made in the budget mean it will receive more per person than equivalent spending in the rest of the UK.
After years of blaming their failures on the UK Government’s lack of investment, the SNP now has nowhere to hide. The additional money this budget provides for Scotland must reach the frontline, to bring down waiting lists and lift attainment in education.
Some of the extra funding must also be used to help councils like East Lothian, which have for so long borne the brunt of SNP cuts. Year after year, the Scottish Government has slashed local government funding by more than virtually any other budget. This SNP-made austerity has starved important local services of funding and led to unprecedented financial pressures on councils.
Now the Scottish Government’s own budget, which is set to be agreed next month, must prioritise ending austerity here, funding our frontline services and giving councils more resources.
A good example of the struggles facing our frontline services and, why it is so important the extra funding reaches them, is the situation at Prestonpans Medical Practice. Last week, I visited the practice with the Health Secretary Neil Gray to let them explain to him face to face the impact the cut it is facing will have on the brilliant service it provides.
I hope the Health Secretary listened carefully and takes action to support all our local community health services.
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