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| Rival MSPs urged to back budget | Rival MSPs urged to back budget |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish Government has urged opposition parties to back its first budget after announcing a series of last-minute concessions. | The Scottish Government has urged opposition parties to back its first budget after announcing a series of last-minute concessions. |
| MSPs will vote later on whether the £30bn spending plans get the go-ahead. | MSPs will vote later on whether the £30bn spending plans get the go-ahead. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond earlier threatened to quit if Holyrood refused to back the budget. | First Minister Alex Salmond earlier threatened to quit if Holyrood refused to back the budget. |
| Ministers have agreed to boost police recruitment, give more cash to fight climate change and bring forward plans to slash business rates. | 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. | 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 measure | 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 measure |
| Ahead of the crunch vote in the Scottish Parliament, Finance Secretary John Swinney said the government had worked hard to achieve consensus. | Ahead of the crunch vote in the Scottish Parliament, Finance Secretary John Swinney said the government had worked hard to achieve consensus. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "This budget will create a stronger, more confident and prosperous nation - and that is what the people of Scotland deserve." | "This budget will create a stronger, more confident and prosperous nation - and that is what the people of Scotland deserve." |
| The Tories have agreed to back the budget - which also aims to deliver a council tax freeze - but was criticised by Labour and the Liberal Democrats. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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%. | 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%. |
| Funding to protect bus fares and services will also receive an extra £4m in 2008-09. | Funding to protect bus fares and services will also receive an extra £4m in 2008-09. |