The Scottish Greens want more money for local government, a better pay settlement for public sector workers and swifter progress in tacking climate change if they are to support the SNP’s budget.
Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the party, set out the three “red line” issues before talks this week with Derek Mackay, the finance secretary. With the SNP no longer having a majority at Holyrood, it has to seek the support of other parties if tax and spending plans for 2018-19 are to be approved.
Mr Harvie said: “If the government comes back before January 31 with a revised budget that does not meet these three tests, we will be unable to give our support. The investment we seek will deliver a fairer, greener Scotland and ministers know these are the right choices to make.”
Scottish Greens say that they will not vote for the budget if it cuts local government spending, citing analysis by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre that shows councils could be left £157 million worse off.
Public sector pay is another priority area where the Greens want the Scottish government to commit more money. In his draft budget Mr Mackay set out that those workers earning less than £30,000 would receive a 3 per cent pay rise, while higher earners would receive a lower rise, which the Greens said amounted to a real-terms pay cut. Council workers will not automatically benefit from the new public pay policy.
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The third key demand is for more investment to help fight climate change, with Greens asking that low-carbon projects receive greater spending. The SNP and the Greens last week voted together at Holyrood to pass a motion calling for the budget to “protect public services, fund a fair pay increase for public sector workers and invest in low-carbon infrastructure”.
Mr Harvie said: “The ball is in the Scottish government’s court. We have made very clear what our priorities are and where their draft budget is lacking, and SNP ministers and backbenchers were left with no option but to acknowledge this by supporting our position in parliament.”
The Scottish government wants to use its budget to raise extra money, with changes proposed for income tax. A spokesman for Mr Mackay said: “The Greens have set out their proposals, and any other party interested in serious negotiations is welcome to do the same.”