London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

Tough spending calls needed, says finance secretary Forbes

Tough spending calls needed, says finance secretary Forbes

Scotland's economy is in a "very difficult position" which will force tough spending decisions in the coming months, the finance secretary has said.

Kate Forbes said tackling the cost-of-living crisis while still feeling the effects of the pandemic made her upcoming financial review critical.

It came after the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned of an estimated £3.5bn funding gap by 2026/27.

Opposition parties have criticised the government's spending "mismanagement".

The IFS has said the government could be forced to choose between axing key policy priorities or increasing taxes to tackle the deficit.

The shortfall is the equivalent of £640 per person and the IFS warned it could rise even higher.

Ms Forbes' spending review on Tuesday will be the first time a multi-year plan has been announced in more than a decade.


'Need to be canny'


The finance secretary said she will set out plans to focus public sector funds "to achieve ambitions to tackle child poverty, reach net zero and deliver sustainable services for the future".

She said: "These are challenging times, and we need to be canny with our spending, but I'm confident that if we work together we can get through this cost-of-living crisis and still achieve our ambitions.

"We face a very difficult financial position over the next few years with funding increases below inflation levels and the challenge of recovering from the pandemic without the financial tools available to every other government in the world.

"That means that while the spending review is not a budget, it will include difficult decisions to ensure we can really focus on supporting households and services at this time."


The Scottish government is using its new welfare powers for more generous benefits than in the rest of the UK.

It faces heath service backlogs coming out of the Covid crisis, and income tax - although raising rates for higher Scottish earners - is generating less revenue than expected.

So the Institute of Fiscal Studies warned on Friday that either taxes will have to go up, significant cuts will be required or, with tightly constrained borrowing powers, Kate Forbes could simply hope that Westminster will deliver more funding than it has set out so far.

This week's review of non-capital spending until 2026 to 20227, the end of this Parliamentary term, should show which of these ministers are choosing.

In setting expectations, Kate Forbes today warns the difficult financial position will require difficult decisions, with a focus on protecting households and services.

But opposition parties have condemned the Scottish government's handling of the economy.

Scottish Conservatives finance spokesperson Liz Smith MSP said: "It appears Kate Forbes' response to warnings from the IFS of a £3.5bn black hole in the SNP government's spending plans is to stick her fingers in her ears.

"Years of economic mismanagement by the SNP - including squandering taxpayers' cash on failed public sector projects like the ferries fiasco - has left Scotland's finances in a perilous state. Yet there is no acknowledgement of this in Ms Forbes' pre-spending review spin.

"The reality is Scots face big public spending cuts, huge tax rises or a combination of both if the SNP are to bridge the huge funding gap they've created."

Daniel Johnson, Scottish Labour's finance spokesperson, said the IFS assessment "laid bare" the price of "SNP economic failure".

He said: "It is clear that the spending review will reveal the heavy cost of the SNP economic mismanagement.

"You can hear them trying to get the excuses in now, but the truth is that during a cost-of-living crisis, Scots will pay for nationalists prioritising the constitution over the economy.

"This will be counted in lost jobs, cuts to public services and few will be able to forgive the SNP for it."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
×