SCOTTISH Labour has accused the SNP of running out of excuses ahead of the Scottish Budget this week.

The Scottish government will set out its budget for 2025-26 on Wednesday and Scottish Labour has warned the SNP not to squander its opportunity.  

Scottish Labour said that now the British Labour government has turned the page on Tory austerity, boosting Scotland's block grant by £3.4 billion next year, the SNP will have to own the decisions it makes.

“For 14 years, the Tories have provided cover for the SNP’s financial failures and reckless waste — but that ends here,”  Scottish Labour finance spokesman Michael Marra said.

“Right now almost one in six Scots are on an NHS waiting list, exam results are declining, our justice system is at breaking point and countless Scots are suffering as a result of the housing emergency.

“The SNP is out of excuses — they have a budget of nearly £60bn at their disposal.”

Speaking ahead of her Budget announcement to Holyrood, SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison said it will result in more jobs and “putting more money into people’s pockets.”

She promised “a Budget for hope that puts in place the investment that will set us up to win big in the years to come.”

The Scottish government faces a tough time passing its Budget, however; a deal will be required to get it over the line and pass the Bill in the new year.

The deal is most likely to be struck with the Scottish Greens — the SNP’s former coalition partners and previous partners in multiple budgets — or the Scottish Liberal Democrats.