A Nationalist MSP stuck his head above the parapet to demand his SNP colleague gives Holyrood more time to scrutinise a landmark Scottish budget.
Opposition MSPs then joined in to accuse Finance Secretary Derek Mackay of showing “contempt” for the Scottish Parliament by refusing to provide more financial information in the run-up to the publication of his spending plans.
Mr Mackay was under pressure in Parliament on Tuesday to agree to “scenario plans” in advance that will make it easier for Holyrood’s Finance Committee to examine the draft budget when it is finally published.
Finance Committee convener Bruce Crawford, an SNP MSP, said it was “unacceptable” that Mr Mackay had gone back on his promise to release the financial data before publication.
The draft budget, which is more complicated than ever because of Scotland’s new financial powers, is normally published in September, but is being delayed until December 15.
Mr Mackay said uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote alongside Holyrood’s new financial powers mean he will need to wait for the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on November 23 before he can bring forward his own draft budget.
Murdo Fraser, the Scottish Conservative finance spokesman, Mr Mackay “shows contempt” for Holyrood failing to honour his commitment on providing the scenario plans.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said the late publication will “severely limit” the ability of parliament to scrutinise the budget.
Mr Mackay said: “I will honour the commitment I have given to the Finance Committee around sharing as much information as I possibly can.
“But I can’t produce a scenario plan that’s a spending budget, a draft budget, without having all the information that will come from the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.”
