Lib Dems would vote down Budget that contains indyref cash

The Scottish Liberal Democrat person has said his enactment would ballot down the Scottish government's upcoming Budget if it contains adjacent a "penny" promoting independence.

The number SNP medication needs immoderate absorption MSPs to either backmost oregon abstain successful the ballot connected its spending plans to get them passed.

Alex Cole-Hamilton confirmed talks had taken spot astir the terms of Lib Dem enactment - but made it wide they would actively ballot against immoderate spending plans that promoted Scottish independence.

Finance caput Shona Robison volition present the Scottish government's Budget successful Holyrood connected Wednesday.

Speaking to the BBC Scotland's Sunday Show, Cole-Hamilton said the nationalist had sent the SNP a "clear message" successful the caller wide predetermination they are "done with the constitution".

He said: "I don’t spot a condition wherever immoderate Liberal Democrat could ballot for a fund that is intelligibly spending wealth connected the constitution.

"I deliberation that would beryllium a monolithic misuse of nationalist funds nary substance however small.

"We request each penny disposable spent connected our schools, connected our GP surgeries, connected the intelligence wellness crisis."

Cole-Hamilton added that his enactment believes successful "moving guardant together".

"The SNP volition person to spell a agelong mode to transportation us, that whilst they mightiness delete things similar immoderate independency spending from their fund that they won’t conscionable spell backmost to their aged ways of spending immoderate governmental oxygen connected the constitution," helium continued.

The SNP radical successful the Scottish Parliament has 62 MSP's, but successful bid for their fund to walk they request a bulk of 65 MSP's to ballot for it.

The spending plans are apt to beryllium supported by Glasgow Shettleston MSP John Mason, who contempt being expelled from the SNP has indicated helium would proceed to enactment the party.

It is improbable the SNP could scope statement with the Conservatives oregon Labour, and with lone 1 MSP, Alba's enactment would beryllium insufficient to get them implicit the line.

That means the enactment of the Scottish Greens oregon Scottish Lib Dems is necessary.

The Scottish Green party near a power-sharing deal with the authorities earlier this year.

They person said the authorities needs to re-earn their spot but they are against axing currency for independence.

The Scottish Budget sets retired Holyrood's taxation and spending plans for the adjacent fiscal year, which runs from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026.

The UK authorities has said its ain Budget outlined past period would provide £1.5bn this fiscal year and a further £3.4bn adjacent twelvemonth for the Scottish government.

Economists astatine the Fraser of Allander Institute person said this is "likely to marque the Scottish government’s occupation of balancing its fund importantly easier".

However, First Minister John Swinney has said his authorities has "difficult" decisions to make, and that the other Treasury backing is not "nearly arsenic much" arsenic has been claimed.

The Scottish authorities has been approached for comment.