Stephen Gethins

Stephen Gethins

Scottish National Party — Arbroath and Broughty Ferry

Speaking in the House of Commons on 2 December 2025

Debate

Budget Resolutions

Contribution

It is good to be able to make my presentation today, after the past few days of drama. The Budget is meant to be a showcase for this place. The Conservatives will be well aware of past years when Budgets unravelled in the days just after they were delivered, but I think we all found it quite something to see a Budget unravel in the days before it was even delivered. Now, there are a couple of more serious points. The Scottish Government get most of their finances from Westminster. We continue to live in an overly centralised state. I say this constructively, because the Health Secretary is a constructive person: engagement with the devolved Administrations should happen before a Budget, not after. It is unacceptable for the First Minister to offer meetings and get no response. That is unacceptable not just for the First Minister of Scotland, but for the First Ministers of Northern Ireland and Wales, who should be afforded a similar courtesy. We have had a lot of silence from Scottish Labour about the Chancellor over the past few days—a lot of silence.

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