Increased Scottish budget is “political spin”, says Alba Party

ALBA Party have hit out at the “political spin” of this week’s UK Government budget. 

Alba Party’s Holyrood leader has highlighted that the so called £3.4Bn increase to the Scottish block grant has followed previous year’s cuts. 

The Scottish block had fallen by 1.2 per cent in real terms since 2022-23 and the Scottish Government’s capital funding was cut by 16% in real terms from 2022-23 to 2024-25.

The Scottish Government’s resource funding fell by 6% between 2010–11 and 2017–18, driven by cuts to block grant funding from the UK government. The block grant did not return to 2010–11 levels until 2019–20.

Commenting Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP said: 

“Despite Labour’s manifesto of change, one thing remains unchanged—the UK fiscal framework, which has consistently disadvantaged Scotland, has not shifted its stance despite the change in Government. Over the years, the Barnett consequentials, delivered in Scotland's so-called block 'grant,' has, in real terms, continually been reduced, offering less and less in return for Scotland's contribution to the UK Treasury from our people and resources.

“This is not the UK subsidising a Scotland that more than pays our way into a union that consistently fails us. Scotland was due £3.4 billion from the consequential spending in England - we got not a penny more. This was not a radical political change from Labour—it was the bare legal minimum it was obliged to give Scotland back. 

“Cutting through the political spin, taking £10 off someone and giving them £3.45 back does not put more money in people's pockets—it just takes out a bit less.”