Tories set out terms to support Salmond

Published on Sunday 4 November 2007 00:14

ALEX Salmond will only get his first budget through Parliament if he agrees to back Tory plans on housing, drugs and crime, Conservative chiefs have warned.

Ahead of the publication of the SNP Government's spending plans next week, Scots Tory leaders have put together a list of demands and "red lines" which will decide whether or not they pass Alex Salmond's bill.

Conservative backing for the SNP will be crucial in the coming months if, as is possible, both Labour and the Liberal Democrats vote against the plans.

If the Tories were also to vote against Salmond, his budget bill would collapse, potentially leading to a vote of no confidence in the Government.

Scotland on Sunday has been passed a seven-page strategy paper written by Tory finance spokesman Derek Brownlee, which lays out the party's plans.

Brownlee writes: "Although it may be politically tempting to make capital out of the difficulty which the SNP may face in implementing their manifesto, we should not assess the budget on the extent to which it delivers SNP manifesto commitments. Instead, we ought to consider the extent to which the budget makes progress in advancing the strategic objectives underpinning our manifesto."

The Tories will demand Salmond backs their own plan to boost the number of rehab places for drug addicts as an alternative to the controversial methadone programme.

They also want ministers to sink extra cash into NHS dentistry in order to ensure that more children are registered.

In addition, the Tories want the SNP to back their plans to provide more affordable homes, to boost prison places and to increase police numbers.

So-called red lines include any attempt by the SNP to renege on its plan to cut business rates for small firms or to boost police numbers.

With only 47 of the 129 seats in the Parliament, the SNP can only rely on two Green votes at present to back its plans. If the 62 Labour and Lib Dem MSPs all oppose the SNP's budget, the Parliament's 17 Tory MSPs would carry the casting vote.

While Labour is certain to oppose the budget, the Lib Dems are also considering their position at present.

A source close to Nicol Stephen said: "First of all we will be looking to see whether the sums add up. Then we will be looking at whether or not it is going in the right direction more generally."