Scottish Budget 2026

This year's Scottish Government budget shows once again that when decisions are made here in Scotland, we choose fairness, compassion and investment, not cuts and austerity.

This budget delivers the best cost-of-living support anywhere in the UK with the Scottish Child Payment to increase with inflation, families with babies under 1 year old will receive £40 per week from 2027, Breakfast Clubs in every primary and ASN school by 2027, more wraparound care before and after school for those that need it, and peak rail fairs have been abolished and will continue to be so as long as there is an SNP government.

We're giving our young people the best start in life with continued free tertiary education tuition and apprenticeships for young Scots, a 10% increase in funding to colleges, and a record investment in affordable homes to help our younger adults get on the property ladder.

The majority - 55% - of those working in Scotland will now pay less income tax than elsewhere in the UK by raising the Basic and Intermediate income tax thresholds by 7.4%. We continue to ask those that can afford more to pay more. In the coming years there will be the introduction of higher Council Tax bands for properties valued over £1 million to increase Local Authority income as well as a new private jet tax travelling to and from Scottish airports.

Our precious NHS will benefit from £22.5 billion in funding for health and social care meaning more operations and appointments. We will have more GPs and new walk-in GP clinics will start opening, ending the 8am rush for appointments. Our NHS staff have better pay and we're increasing training and support. There is also an expansion of Hospital at Home and community care.

This is a Budget that puts people first - protecting families, strengthening our NHS and investing in Scotland's future.

For the full Budget, click here