Sarwar giving SNP a ‘free pass’ on Budget, say Tories – Daily Business

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has been accused of handing the SNP’s budget a “free pass” by saying his party will not oppose it even before its contents have been revealed.

Finance Secretary Shona Robison will deliver the statement in Holyrood next Tuesday less than three months before voters go to the polls.

There is speculation that she will announce an adjustment to income tax and a halt to the business rates revaluation process among a series of policies aimed at boosting the SNP’s chances of being returned to power.

Amid claims that he can lift Labour from its low poll rating, Mr Sarwar was expected to use the budget debates to criticise the SNP’s record in government.

Instead, he says he will assess whether a new budget, or emergency measures would be needed after the election on 7 May.

“We’re not going to make the budget fall,” he told Borders TV. “But the key point here is that whenever the budget is passed it’s actually for any new government that is elected after May to set a direction, or a different direction for our country.

“We will keep every option on the table for what we choose to do after the election so we can have that new direction. That’s fundamentally the big gamechanger.

“We will reserve the right to look at whether emergency provisions are needed or an alternative budget is needed or an emergency budget is needed to meet the aspirations and needs of the people of Scotland.”

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Anas Sarwar’s astonishing decision to give a free pass to the SNP budget, which he hasn’t even seen, confirms how weak Labour are. John Swinney will be delighted.

“The Scottish Conservatives are the only party that can be trusted to stand up to the SNP and the other left-wing parties at Holyrood who all want to inflict high taxes on hard-working Scots in order to fund an out-of-control benefits bill.”

Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary, who is leading the Labour campaign alongside Dame Jackie Baillie, the deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party, said the party’s campaign fund had been boosted by almost £500,000 over the final weeks of 2025, taking its total available fund to £1.1 million.

“We are unleashing the most sophisticated and largest digital operation of any party in Scotland, reaching one million Scots every week,” said Mr Alexander.

“We have the largest and most effective ground campaign of any party, and between now and polling day we will have one million conversations about Scotland’s choice.”

More than half the new funding – £284,485 – is a bequest from Stuart Ritchie Brown, 76, who died while walking in 2023.

There has also been a £50,000 donation from the businessman and property developer Amin Hemani, a long-time supporter of the party; £40,000 from Paul McManus, the drummer with the band Gun; more than £50,000 from the PG paper company; and significant cash from a number of trade unions.

The funding puts Labour in a strong position. Last month it emerged that the SNP had received no major donations in a year. Of 1,000 reportable donations made to political parties in the UK over the previous 12 month period, only one, of just over £2,500, went to the SNP.

SNP leader John Swinney said this week he wants to have the maximum £1.5 million legal limit available to spend on his campaign.

Reform UK, which is currently edging out Labour in second place behind Labour, is expected to unveil former Tory minister Malcolm Offord as its new Scottish leader.

His switch to Reform was announced at a rally in Grangemouth last month and was immediately installed as the favourite to lead the party north of the border.

As Lord Offord he has been a member of the House of Lords since 2021. He previously served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports. Until his resignation from the Tories he was the party’s spokesman in the Lords on energy.

He has been forced to renounce his peerage in order to stand for election.

Party leader Nigel Farage will be in Edinburgh to make the announcement, backed by a budget of at least £1 million which to support Reform’s first active campaigning north of the border.

.