The Scottish Budget was announced by Shona Robison yesterday, met with predictable spin as the opposition parties jostle for position. As a minority government, the SNP will have to do deals to get their budget passed, and to this extent they have offered up policies which it will be extremely hard for Labour to vote down. Here’s a brief look at some of the main points in poverty reduction measures, housing, and arts and culture (further coverage to follow).

Poverty Action

One of the standout announcements was that the Scottish government would move to scrap – or offset – the two-child benefits cap.

Predictably the Tory press and their editors and columnists went into hysteria. Presenting Swinney as a Bad Santa the Daily Mail frothed and fumed: “The SNP’s Budget has been slammed [by us – Ed]…