A COUPLE of weeks ago, I wrote about the Scottish Government’s budget and why I will not support the SNP’s plans while they provide a tax cut for the better off at the same time as cutting resources for our schools and social care.

A fortnight on, little has changed. Opposition parties remain united in the view that the £327 million package of cuts to local government will have a devastating impact on already over-stretched vital services. The local government umbrella body COSLA has just joined those warning about the impact of the cuts, particularly on the most vulnerable, who are most likely to rely on council services.

Labour took the budget to a vote at Holyrood last week and the Government was unable to get its plans through Parliament. This leaves ministers in a difficult situation. They need to compromise in order to get their budget passed, but show little appetite for shifting their position on the cuts. However, as I write this, there are reports that they may reach a deal with the Greens to enable them to support the budget.

Labour will not support the budget as long as the SNP refuse to stop the cuts to local services. Labour will be tabling amendments to the SNP’s budget to stop, in full, these cuts. The Scottish Parliament has the powers to generate extra resources to make the cuts unnecessary, as we have been saying since before last year’s Holyrood election.

Here in East Lothian, the Government is proposing to cut £7 million from the council’s funding for 2017/18. Local Labour councillors are opposing the cuts and doing their utmost to protect our local services. If you want to see an end to SNP cuts to our budget and local services protected, please support our petition at www.change.org/p/protect-our-services-stop-the-snp-s-7-million-cut-to-east-lothian-s-budget