Emma Roddick MSP: “This is a budget which delivers for the islands”

SNP MSP Emma Roddick has said she is “proud” to have voted for the Scottish Budget, which passed yesterday [25th February 2025] with support from the Green and Liberal Democrat parties.

Only the Conservatives voted against the SNP Government’s budget, with Scottish Labour abstaining.

The Islands MSP said:

“Another year, another SNP budget that I’m genuinely proud to vote for. This invests in the islands – expanding the free bus travel scheme for those under 22 to inter-island ferries, and providing extra funding for island authorities to invest in island connectivity.

“But yet again, a significant portion is set aside to mitigate the worst of UK Government policies – whether it’s undoing welfare cuts by scrapping the two-child cap and reintroducing a universal winter heating payment for pensioners, or paying out for Labour’s new tax on jobs which punishes Scotland for paying its public sector workers better.

“Nowhere will this be more important than Shetland – where we know fuel poverty is high, and the highest percentage of people are employed in the public sector out of any local authority in Scotland.

“It is every government’s responsibility to protect people: but the UK Government has yet again refused.

“Last year it was the Tories, this year it’s Labour, but the story is the same: the SNP is protecting folk from the worst of UK cuts, investing in Scotland, and lifting people out of poverty. A budget for Scotland, by Scotland.”