Scrapping the affordable housing cuts could be a reset moment for the SNP Government

John Swinney’s allies view his first Budget since taking over from Humza Yousaf as a year zero moment. They have a strong sense of buyer’s remorse and want to undo the damage Yousaf caused in a short space of time.

The former First Minister, like Swinney after him, said cutting child poverty would be the top priority of his Government. But his Budget last December was a nightmare for Scotland’s poorest children and his big promise turned out to be empty rhetoric.

He handed the wealthy a lifeline by freezing their council tax and slashed the affordable housing budget by £196m. The latter policy was inexplicable, immoral and poured fuel on the fire of the country’s housing crisis.

At the time of the cut, councils had declared a housing emergency and the number of kids living in temporary homes was at shocking levels. Cutting the affordable housing budget was the last thing any progressive politician should have done but Yousaf ploughed on.

Swinney’s colleagues believe reversing the Yousaf cut would send a strong statement about the priorities of his Government. He wants the lofty rhetoric about challenging child poverty to be backed up with deeds.

Boosting funding for affordable housing will not in itself change the minds of voters who are scunnered with the SNP. The NHS is in a mess and voters are paying more tax for poorer services, particularly in local government.

The SNP Government has stalled on delivery and punters struggle to remember the last time they did something good. But reversing the Yousaf cut is a good place to start and will make a difference to the lives of vulnerable Scots.

The First Minister needs the same sense of urgency in other areas.

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