Tories accuse Green Party of "played like a fiddle" in Scottish budget negotiations

The Scottish Conservatives have accused the Greens of being "played like a fiddle'' during budget negotiations with the Scottish Government.

Donald Cameron, the Tory finance spokesman, made the comments as MSPs voted to pass the general principles of the budget Bill on Thursday by 65 to 54.

The Scottish Government reached an agreement with the Greens on Wednesday, pledging an extra £173 million of spending on local government, climate change, policing and research into a scheme to provide free bus travel for people under 19.

Focusing on the bus travel commitment, Mr Cameron described the Greens as having fallen for a "con trick''.

He said: "What have the Greens received? They've received funding to support preparations to introduce concessionary fares if possible, subject to research and due diligence.

"There are get out clauses everywhere you look. This isn't a commitment from the Scottish Government, it's a con trick.

"Patrick Harvie has been played like a fiddle and not for the first time.''

Mr Harvie said after the vote: "Free bus travel for under-19s is due to commence in the last quarter of the financial year.

"The opposition can call it what they like but free bus travel for young people is a transformational announcement which will tackle poverty and the climate emergency.''

Mr Cameron also took aim at Finance Secretary Kate Forbes' assertion that all finances had been allocated, saying the increase in funds "makes a mockery'' of the budget process.

Welcoming the additional funding for local government agreed in the Greens' deal with the SNP, Mr Harvie said: "It makes a real, substantial difference and it will make a lasting impact for people across Scotland.''

He added: "This does need to be a climate emergency budget and the groundbreaking proposal on free bus travel for everyone aged 18 and younger will make a massive difference.

"We'll go further in future, we'll propose expanding on this scheme for all, certainly including everybody under 25.

"But this is a huge first step in that direction and it's welcome that Green pressure has made this happen.''

Ms Forbes told the chamber the budget satisfied demands from all parties and therefore every MSP should vote for it.

She said: "I believe that the contribution that (the budget) will make to climate change and household budgets and to empowering our young people means that it's very difficult to vote against this at 5pm.''

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie criticised the Scottish Government and Ms Forbes over the assertion that there was no more money to be spent on the budget.

He said: "Let this be the last year and we can do away with this charade that the Government has left no flexibility at all for any other parties to put forward priorities that they would like to see reflected in the budget.''

Scottish Labour's Sarah Boyack described the budget as a "disappointment'', adding: It's full of smoke and mirrors and it's all about the headlines not about the reality on the ground.''

She added: "This budget does not deliver the transformational change Scotland needs.''