Derek Mackay reaches budget agreement with Greens

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has brokered an agreement with the Scottish Green party to win support for his 2018/2019 budget.

Agreed hours before the Scottish Parliament votes on the draft budget at stage one, Mackay tweeted the deal would deliver “extra support for Local Government, public sector pay and low carbon infrastructure.

“Our budget for Scotland will reverse Tory cuts, deliver support for the economy and increase health spending by £400m.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: “Opposition parties have a responsibility to engage constructively and make a difference for Scotland's communities, and that’s exactly what Greens are doing.

“This is a substantial package of funding for local council services, teachers and other public sector workers, and will boost the green infrastructure our communities need for the future. On this basis, our MSPs are able to support the budget in tonight’s vote."

MSPs will hear details of the agreement from Mackay during this afternoon's debate in Parliament, due to start at 2.40pm.

The Greens were the most likely to win concessions in the budget after SNP members supported a Green amendment to a Labour motion on the budget earlier this month, which had called for "a fair pay increase for public sector workers" and investment in low-carbon infrastructure.