Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 26 February 2026 [Draft]
26 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
First Minister’s Question Time
Social Security (Cost)
John Swinney has just said that his benefits spending is fair and affordable. It is neither. Hard-working Scots who are struggling with the cost of living are already forced to pay £1.8 billion more each year in SNP income tax. That is £1.8 billion more than they would pay if they did the same job for the same wage elsewhere in the United Kingdom. That is the only reason why John Swinney can fund his benefits spending, and it is going to get worse.
A new report from the Scottish Fiscal Commission says that 1 million Scots will be in receipt of benefits by the end of the decade. At the same time, 1 million Scots will be paying income tax at the higher rate of 42p or more. Does John Swinney think that that is fair and affordable?
In the same item of business
1. Russell Findlay (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
We are blessed to live in a country that provides its people with the safety net of social security. Any one of us, or our loved ones, might need a helping h...
The First Minister (John Swinney)
SNP
I do believe that it is fair and affordable. The Government successfully took a budget through Parliament that was passed with the support of members of diff...
Russell Findlay
Con
John Swinney has just said that his benefits spending is fair and affordable. It is neither. Hard-working Scots who are struggling with the cost of living ar...
The First Minister
SNP
I think that the Government’s approach in its budget and in its social security expenditure is fair and affordable. What the Government is doing in relation ...
Russell Findlay
Con
No one is asked to pay more tax—they are forced to pay more tax. This Government should get people off benefits and into work, because that is how we improve...
The First Minister
SNP
The Government has not taken any decisions about those particular issues.What this exchange highlights, once again, is that Russell Findlay has come into thi...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Thank you, members.
The First Minister
SNP
I am very pleased to put on the record that, while Russell Findlay goes after the benefits of disabled people, my Government will stand shoulder to shoulder ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear one another.
The First Minister
SNP
I simply point out to Russell Findlay that the Government’s budget, which was passed yesterday, contains significant support for employability schemes to ena...
Russell Findlay
Con
The First Minister is doing what he always does—resorting to nonsense smears—because he is in a state of complete and utter denial. Interruption.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear Mr Findlay.
Russell Findlay
Con
This entire place is in a state of denial. The SNP, the Greens, the Lib Dems, Labour and Reform think that they can keep spending more money and giving more ...
The First Minister
SNP
If I needed any lessons on how to smear people, I would take them from Russell Findlay, who does it every single week in the chamber.In the budget yesterday—...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear one another.
The First Minister
SNP
To reassure Russell Findlay and the Conservatives about the situation that we find ourselves in, I say that the Government asked the credit rating agencies t...