SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has welcomed the news that the Scottish Parliament has passed the 2025/26 budget at Stage 3. Dr Allan, alongside all other parties except Labour and the Tories, voted in favour of the SNP’s ‘Budget of Hope’.

The Budget will see record levels of funding for the NHS, housing and local government while scrapping the two-child benefit cap, a move which has been welcomed by child poverty action groups.

Additionally, the Budget will also deliver for islanders in particular, with further investments for digital connectivity, free inter-island travel for under 22s and significant funding increases for Gaelic language and cultural projects throughout the Western Isles. The Budget, which is now awaiting Royal Assent, will also reinstate a winter fuel payment for pensioners after the scheme was scrapped by the UK Labour Government last year.

Following the vote, Allan commented:

“I am delighted to have voted for John Swinney's first Budget as First Minister, which I believe will benefit the lives of our island communities and help us continue to make progress in eradicating child poverty in Scotland.

“Once again, we find the Scottish Parliament needing to mitigate against Westminster austerity by introducing our own winter fuel payment, which I know will benefit many of my constituents who experience the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK, will be relieved to hear.

“Recent data also shows that since 2021, £3,020,725 of Scottish Child Payments have been made to families across the Western Isles, a scheme which has been credited as a real game change in tackling child poverty. So it’s excellent that an expansion of these anti-child poverty measures, for example mitigating measures to effectively scrapping the two-child benefit cap, will also become law. 

“Whilst Anas Sarwar sits on his hands waiting for directions from his London bosses, the SNP has listened to people's concerns and is taking strong action to deliver on their priorities. Ultimately, I believe it’s time the Scottish Parliament had full powers as an independent nation to deliver for the people of Scotland.”