Scotland's First Minister John Swinney (Image: Getty)
The Scottish National Party (SNP) been accused of waving a "white flag" over independence, with Finance Secretary Shona Robison so far including no provision for funds to push for "Scexit".
Independence supporters claim the Budget, which was announced on Wednesday and set aside no independence spending, suggested the government wasn't serious about pushing for Indyref2, our sister paper The Scottish Daily Express reports.
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The SNP had previously been accused of wasting British taxpayer money in the pursuit of breaking up the union, with civil servants utilised under previous leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf to produce "prospectuses" on independence that were light on detail, as per the outlet.
But under Yousaf's successor John Swinney, the nationalist executive has changed tack, with the First Minister admitting that Scotland would not leave the United Kingdom until there is "compelling and demonstrable" support for it.
The move is thought to have been made with an eye on the Holyrood election in 2026, after the SNP suffered a hammering in the General Election having made independence a key part of the campaign.
READ MORE: SNP panic as ‘high-profile’ defections imminent ahead of major Budget challenge
Shona Robison (Image: Getty)
Both the Scottish Greens and Alba Party, both of whom are separatists allies, have voiced frustration with the Budget enveiled yesterday.
Ash Regan, Alba's one MSP - who defected from the SNP - has indicated she is willing to support the budget, but the party's general secretary Chris McEleny claims the party had "flown a white flag" on its once central goal of a second vote.
"The people of Scotland were promised a referendum after the last Scottish elections, no ifs, no buts, and there was a clear democratic mandate for one and it wasn’t delivered," he told The National.
"If reports are correct, then the Scottish Government has flown a white flag on that constitutional imperative when it should have been flying a Lion Rampant."
"If the Scottish Government has decided to concede that there is no longer a need for government to prepare the case for independence, then the independence movement is right to ask what its strategy to deliver independence is," he added.
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The Scottish Greens, the SNP's former government partners, also took aim at the Budget, with co-leader Patrick Harvie saying: "In 2021, the people of Scotland elected a pro-independence parliament and a pro-independence government.
"There is no reason for that government to stop the work it is doing to build the case for an independent Scotland,” he said.
"We would be very disappointed if the SNP gave into the illiberal and undemocratic demands of the Unionist parties who have said our parliament cannot even talk about independence if they are to get backing for their Budget.
"I have no doubt that a lot of people across the wider Yes movement would be too," he argued.
Swinney currently leads a minority government, requiring the support at least one opposition party to get a budget passed.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish LibDems, previously said his party would refuse to back any Budget that included independence spending.
The SNP has been approached for comment via email.
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Robison, said the Budget “offers hope for Scotland’s future” for the coming year, estimating that 60 percent of Scots will be better off because they live in the country.
She also outlined key measures including mitigation of the impact of the two-child benefit cap, and free school meals being extended. Robison also committed to ensuring that the Winter Fuel Payment remains universal.