Russell Findlay has confirmed the Scottish Conservatives will vote against a “desperate, damaging and dishonest” SNP budget that increases bills for workers and businesses to fund growing welfare spending.
At First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Conservative leader said John Swinney’s “ruinous” economic strategy was crushing aspiration and harming economic growth.
Findlay cited criticism of Tuesday’s budget by business groups including the CBI, Federation of Small Businesses and UK Hospitality Scotland.
He added that Labour – who said they would not vote against the budget before having seen it – and the other opposition parties were too weak to stand up to the SNP.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney’s economic approach is ruinous.
“Taxes can’t keep rising in order to fund higher spending on benefits.
“Under the SNP, income tax is set to rise again for many hard-working Scots, while businesses face tax rises of almost £300 million in the coming weeks.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, the Scottish Conservatives will not back a budget that does nothing to help Scotland’s workers and businesses, one that hammers people with higher taxes to fund a bloated benefits system.
“We value the safety net for those in need, but the SNP’s benefits bill is out of control and will now go up by another £650 million.
“That means one pound of every seven pounds this government takes from taxpayers is spent on benefits. Scotland can’t afford this.
“This is a desperate budget that kills aspiration. It’s a damaging budget that harms business. It’s a dishonest budget that will need to be fixed within months.
“It’s the same old John Swinney.
“The people of Scotland deserve lower taxes, fairer benefits and a government focused on economic growth.
“It’s mind-blowing that Labour and the other so-called opposition parties will let the SNP’s bourach of a budget pass.
“They are too weak to oppose this failing SNP government, but my party will always stand up to them.”