SNP Budget plans certain to pass after Labour says it will not oppose

The SNP’s Budget plans are certain to pass their parliamentary hurdles in Holyrood after Labour said it will not oppose them.

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, confirmed his party will not vote against the proposals.

However, he said he reserved the right to set a “different direction” if Labour wins the Holyrood election in May.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar | PA

The Scottish Budget is due to be published on Tuesday. As the SNP operates a minority administration, it needs the co-operation of opposition MSPs to get the plans through Holyrood.

READ MORE: Scottish Budget: The case for tax cuts is crystal clear but the SNP aren't listening

"We're not going to make the Budget fall,” Mr Sarwar told ITV Border, signalling Labour will abstain.

“But the key point here is that whenever the Budget is passed, and whatever is passed, it's actually for any new government that is elected after May to set a direction or a different direction for our country.”

He said Labour reserved the right “to look at whether emergency provisions are needed, or an alternative Budget is needed, or an emergency Budget is needed, after the election in May, to meet the aspirations and the needs that people have in Scotland”.