The SNP have demanded the chancellor abandons his party’s “damaging austerity agenda” ahead of his first Autumn Statement.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is to outline his tax and spending plans to MPs this afternoon.
The Treasury has indicated he will make buying a home more affordable and increase the National Living Wage as part of an economy-boosting package to “help people’s money go further” and “build a country that works for everyone”.
And now Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has told Mr Hammond to stop inflicting cuts on Scotland.
He said: “Our discretionary budget will have been cut by £3.3 billion in real terms, or 10.6%, since 2010-11 and within this, our capital budget will have fallen by £600 million or 15.7% – this is unacceptable.
“I have written to the chancellor and urged him to end the damaging austerity agenda when he sets out the autumn statement later today.”
A Treasury spokeswoman said they would not comment on “speculation” in advance of the statement, but Mr Mackay’s sentiments were echoed by Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour leader, who called on the chancellor to improve equality by investing in public services, like schools and the NHS.
She said: “The Tory mantra of cut, cut and cut again simply isn’t working. Today the government should admit that fact and bring the cuts to an end.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson urged the SNP to not start “griping and sniping” about what the chancellor announces today.
She said: “As of next year, the Scottish Parliament will be one of the most powerful and accountable devolved Parliaments in the world.
“The SNP will no longer just be making decisions on how to spend money, it will have to decide how to raise it from Scottish taxpayers too.
“And my message to the SNP is this: there is nothing fair about its plans to tax families in Scotland more than other parts of the UK, and it will only make us a less competitive place to do business.
“People will also want to see a positive reaction from the SNP today. Griping and sniping about the UK Government isn’t enough. It is time to stop dithering in government and get on with governing.”