This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7229507.stm

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Budget showdown after quit threat Rival MSPs urged to back budget
(about 3 hours later)
The Scottish Government's £30bn budget faces a crucial vote after First Minister Alex Salmond threatened to quit if MSPs do not support the plans. The Scottish Government has urged opposition parties to back its first budget after announcing a series of last-minute concessions.
That could trigger an election, but talks have been taking place to secure support for the minority SNP administration's proposals. MSPs will vote later on whether the £30bn spending plans get the go-ahead.
MSPs narrowly backed the spending plans in the first budget debate last month. First Minister Alex Salmond earlier threatened to quit if Holyrood refused to back the budget.
Sixty-four were in favour, including independent Margo MacDonald, 62 were against, and the two Greens abstained. Ministers have agreed to boost police recruitment, give more cash to fight climate change and bring forward plans to slash business rates.
A spokesman for the first minister said that, if parliament did not approve the budget when MSPs voted at 1700 GMT, the view of the government would be to "take it to the people".A spokesman for the first minister said that, if parliament did not approve the budget when MSPs voted at 1700 GMT, the view of the government would be to "take it to the people".
However, despite Mr Salmond's comments, the minority government is still confident of gaining parliament's backing.
ELECTION THREAT CONSEQUENCES Alex Salmond's resignation would trigger attempts by parliament to find an alternative first minister within a 28-day deadlineA fresh election could be triggered by a two-thirds majority vote by MSPsIf the budget is defeated, an amended version could also be brought back as an emergency measureELECTION THREAT CONSEQUENCES Alex Salmond's resignation would trigger attempts by parliament to find an alternative first minister within a 28-day deadlineA fresh election could be triggered by a two-thirds majority vote by MSPsIf the budget is defeated, an amended version could also be brought back as an emergency measure
In a bid to bring the Tories on board, SNP ministers held out the prospect of a new national drugs strategy, to be published before the summer recess. Ahead of the crunch vote in the Scottish Parliament, Finance Secretary John Swinney said the government had worked hard to achieve consensus.
Community Safety Minister Fergus Ewing said this would bring about a "step change" in tackling drug misuse. "This is a budget for all of Scotland, proposed by a government that provides leadership for all of Scotland, and considered by a parliament that must speak for all of Scotland," he said.
He said: "A key priority will be to ensure that those suffering from drug addiction receive the treatment, care and support which will best enable them to recover." "This budget will create a stronger, more confident and prosperous nation - and that is what the people of Scotland deserve."
A Tory spokesman said his party had "won major concessions". The Tories have agreed to back the budget, which was criticised by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
But he added its calls for accelerating a cut in business rates remained an "outstanding issue". A total of 1,000 new police officers will now be recruited by March 2011, an increase of 500, and an extra £4.3m will be pumped into the Climate Challenge Fund.
On the eve of the vote, harsh words were exchanged between the Greens and the Liberal Democrats. Mr Swinney also announced that, from April next year, business rates would be abolished for up to 120,000 small businesses and a further 30,000 will see rate cuts of between 25% and 50%.
The Scottish Green Party said last week that despite concessions from Mr Swinney, the budget was not green enough for them. Funding to protect bus fares and services will also receive an extra £4m in 2008-09.
Alex Salmond is determined that the budget should be passed
But Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles challenged the Green Party MSPs to declare whether they would abstain again or vote in favour of the budget.
He said: "I want the Greens to confirm whether or not they will vote against the budget if it contains key policies that they have campaigned against, such as the M74 extension.
"Anything other than a vote against the budget by the Greens will be a massive betrayal by those few people who voted Green at the last election."
Green MSP Patrick Harvie retorted that he could not take seriously any challenge from a member of the party which promoted the "abysmal M74 northern extension".
Mr Harvie said he and fellow Green Robin Harper would seek to exert "as much influence as possible" on the budget for the Scottish people and for the environment.
Remaining confident
Meanwhile independent Ms MacDonald, whose vote could also be crucial, said she was seeking more cash for NHS Lothian.
She said: "NHS Lothian has been under-funded to the tune of £11m per annum and although the health board has managed to break even, it is only fair that this shortfall in spending should be tackled as soon as possible."
On Tuesday, Mr Salmond's spokesman said the first minister would resign and take the issue "to the people" if the budget fell at the crunch vote.
Despite Mr Salmond's comments, the minority government is still confident of gaining parliament's backing.