The SNP’s budget has been slated as cowardly by a man who used to be one of Alex Salmond’s closest aides.
Alex Bell, who was one of the former first minister’s policy advisers, savaged Derek Mackay’s plans as a “white flag” raised by a government that did not have “the courage of its convictions”.
Mr Bell tore into the finance minister’s budget as a “sweetie” thrown to the electorate that would do nothing to change society for the better.
Mr Mackay announced plans not to pass on a tax break to higher income earners in Scotland, a policy that will generate £79 million a year to spend on public services. He also allowed local authorities to increase council tax for the first time in nine years but by a limited amount.
Mr Bell said: “Cowards one and all: the Scottish government had the means to help Scotland, and chose not to. ‘Scotland’s party’ is how they’d like to be known, what they mean is having a party at Scotland’s expense.
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“The SNP’s draft budget is presented as a gift cake — high earners to pay more tax — but has broken glass in every mouthful.”
Murdo Fraser, for the Conservatives, described Mr Bell’s intervention as extraordinary. “The Scottish government has huge powers over tax, welfare and public spending, but instead of using these to grow the economy they’ve chosen to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK,” he said.
Jackie Baillie, for Labour, said: “The fact that a former senior adviser to the SNP calls Nicola Sturgeon a coward for delivering a budget that imposes £327 million of cuts to local services like schools and social care speaks volumes.”
Mr Salmond defended Mr Mackay’s budget. “We have asked people who are a bit better off to pay a bit more in council tax to help fund public services,” he said. Mr Salmond said that it was right to ask the comfortably off to pay a “bit more” for public services.
Mr Mackay’s budget also came in for criticism from John McLaren, a leading economist. Writing in a Scottish Trends report, he said the budget would provide more money for Scotland, not because of any tax changes introduced by Mr Mackay but because of extra cash from the Barnett formula.
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Labour also claimed the budget was giving older people a raw deal because concessionary travel was now in line for cuts of almost £10 million. Neil Bibby, its transport spokesman, said fares for paying customers could rise and vital bus routes could be cut as the funds for subsidised and free travel for disabled and older people were reduced.
The budget document does outline plans to cut concessionary travel from £207.8 million in 2016-17 to £198.3 million in 2017-18 but a Transport Scotland spokeswoman said the free bus pass scheme would continue unchanged.
Many households will face council tax rises. South Lanarkshire is committed to freezing its bills but several others are expected to put them up by the maximum 3 per cent, including Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Perth and Kinross, Falkirk and Midlothian.