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Lib Dems offer new budget support Scots budget to be fast-tracked
(about 2 hours later)
The Liberal Democrats want discussions with the Scottish Government about what concessions might gain their support for a revised budget. A new Scottish budget is to be fast-tracked through parliament, in the wake of its rejection by MSPs.
Party leader Tavish Scott has hinted he might be prepared to drop his party's demand for a 2p cut in income tax.
His comments were welcomed by Finance Secretary John Swinney, who said he was hopeful the deadlock could be resolved.
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens combined to vote down the £33bn budget proposals on Wednesday.Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens combined to vote down the £33bn budget proposals on Wednesday.
The minority SNP government will seek to resume talks with rival parties in an attempt to find common ground. But a meeting of the main Holyrood parties has agreed to re-run the budget between now and February 11.
We can certainly make progress if we get round the table and have a real discussion Tavish ScottScottish Lib Dem leader Meanwhile, talks have been continuing between the minority SNP government and opposition parties to win enough support to pass the spending.
SNP ministers hope to reach a deal to have a new budget adopted in February. The Scottish Government would resign if the budget failed a second time, which would lead to a snap election if parliament found itself unable to establish a new administration.
Mr Scott told BBC Radio Scotland: "We need to move forward and build a better budget for Scotland. The government have got to get a budget through in short order, but we can certainly make progress if we get round the table Tavish ScottScottish Lib Dem leader
"I recognise the situation we are now in. In the wake of the budget defeat, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott hinted he might be prepared to drop his party's demand for a 2p income tax cut, previously rejected by ministers.
He was asked whether he could support a budget not including the Liberal Democrats demand for a 2p tax cut. The move was welcomed by Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney, who said he was hopeful the deadlock could be broken.
Mr Scott replied: "Obviously we'd like to make that argument, but we want to be constructive about this - we are where we are now. Mr Scott, who said he did not believe an election was on the cards, told BBC Scotland: "We need to move forward and build a better budget for Scotland. I recognise the situation we are now in."
"The government have got to get a budget through in short order, but we can certainly make progress if we get round the table and have a real discussion about finding a way to make this budget respond to the challenges this country faces." Challenged on the income tax cut, the Lib Dem leader replied: "Obviously we'd like to make that argument, but we want to be constructive about this - we are where we are now.
'Very helpful' "The government have got to get a budget through in short order, but we can certainly make progress if we get round the table and have a real discussion about finding a way to make this budget respond to the challenges this country faces." class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7857087.stm">Q&A: Scottish budget rejection
Mr Swinney said he did not believe there was a big gulf between what the government wanted, and what opposition parties wanted, and pledged to "constructively engage" with all other parties in a bid to resolve the deadlock as quickly as possible. Mr Swinney said he did not believe there was a big gulf between what the government and opposition parties wanted, and pledged to "constructively engage" with them.
He said: "We are probably talking about a dispute around how we spend £100m out of a £33bn budget.He said: "We are probably talking about a dispute around how we spend £100m out of a £33bn budget.
"Some of the more radical changes to public expenditure that Tavish Scott was putting forward, which would have seen us reducing public expenditure by £800m to afford a 2p tax cut, is a budget proposal that I know confidently I could never have got through parliament because Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens were opposed to it. "Some of the more radical changes to public expenditure that Tavish Scott was putting forward, which would have seen us reducing public expenditure by £800m to afford a 2p tax cut, is a budget proposal that I know confidently I could never have got through parliament because Labour, the Conservatives and the Greens were opposed to it."
"I thought the tone of Mr Scott's interview this morning was very helpful in that respect, that we get into a space where we are actually focusing on resolving what are the issues of dispute and allow us to put in place a budget that meets the needs of the people of Scotland." Mr Swinney added: "I thought the tone of Mr Scott's interview this morning was very helpful in that respect, that we get into a space where we are actually focusing on resolving what are the issues of dispute and allow us to put in place a budget that meets the needs of the people of Scotland."
class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7857087.stm">Q&A: Scottish budget rejection Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray told BBC Scotland it was not too late to sort a budget out, adding: "There is time for the SNP to bring a budget which commands the support of the parliament. That was always the case."
First Minister Alex Salmond has said he would not rule out an election if a second attempt to get the budget through was rejected.
But Mr Scott said he did not believe an election was on the cards: "It would be important to recognise that the first minister is not the prime minister, nor is Alex Salmond the Queen.
"In our parliamentary system there can be a period of time before another first minister is chosen.
"But I don't think any of that will happen. I think it's all fantasy politics and what we should get on with is sorting out a budget for Scotland."
Labour's Iain Gray told BBC Scotland it was not too late to sort a budget out: "There is time for the SNP to bring a budget which commands the support of the parliament.
"That was always the case."
Last-minute concessionsLast-minute concessions
The 2009-10 budget fell on Wednesday evening on the casting vote of Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson, after a 64-64 tie. The 2009-10 budget fell on the casting vote of Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson, after a 64-64 tie.
The presiding officer said he was required by convention to support the status quo.The presiding officer said he was required by convention to support the status quo.
The Conservatives and independent MSP Margo MacDonald voted for the spending plans.The Conservatives and independent MSP Margo MacDonald voted for the spending plans.
But despite ministers offering last-minute concessions, talks between the SNP and the opposing parties broke down just before the vote on Wednesday evening. Despite ministers offering last-minute concessions, talks between the SNP and the opposing parties broke down just before the 1700 GMT vote on Wednesday evening.
MSPs could now be asked to vote on a new budget on 19 February, although the timetable could be speeded up with the backing of other parties.
Mr Salmond is prepared to resubmit the budgetMr Salmond is prepared to resubmit the budget
The first minister said the Budget Bill would be resubmitted. Mr Salmond said the Budget Bill had already been resubmitted, while accepting that, if the government's budget had no likelihood of being approved "at some stage . . . it can't be a government".
Mr Salmond said: "Given the circumstances we should try again and we are prepared to do that. "At some stage the people of Scotland, looking in on this process, will want to have their say," he continued.
"We have already resubmitted it through the budget process and recommended a timetable which will bring it to decision in mid-February if MSPs give up the first week of their February holiday, which I think would be a good idea under the circumstances."
However, he accepted that if the government's budget has no likelihood of being approved "at some stage... it can't be a government."
"And at some stage the people of Scotland, looking in on this process, will want to have their say," Mr Salmond continued.
"Under those circumstances, if there was a deadlock or a stalemate, if the parliamentary processes were exhausted, then surely it would be time to take our case to the country.""Under those circumstances, if there was a deadlock or a stalemate, if the parliamentary processes were exhausted, then surely it would be time to take our case to the country."
If Mr Salmond quit as first minister, MSPs would have 28 days to appoint a successor before a general election was called.If Mr Salmond quit as first minister, MSPs would have 28 days to appoint a successor before a general election was called.