Ministers said their budget would get the economy moving again The Scottish Government has been continuing last-minute talks to win enough support to pass its budget. Labour and the Liberal Democrats intend to vote against the £33bn spending plans for 2009-10, after negotiations with ministers broke down. The minority government is hoping to get the budget approved in parliament, with help from the two Green MSPs and the Conservatives. Ministers said rejection of the budget could cost Scotland £1.8bn. Finance Secretary John Swinney told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the budget would boost the Scottish economy. He said: "If people vote against the budget at 5 o'clock, they're voting against an increase in public expenditure of £1.8bn. "Members of parliament have to think how are they going to explain to their constituents that they've turned their back on investment in the Scottish economy, the creation of 5,000 jobs to support the construction sector. From a Green perspective, there is a lot of big, bad stuff in this budget
Patrick Harvie
Green MSP
Brian Taylor blogs on the budget "The duty for me is to put forward a budget that convinces parliament and that's what I'm working to do." Scottish Labour, which wanted changes including more money for apprenticeships, said the concessions offered by the government were not enough. The party's leader, Iain Gray, said: "Despite a series of meetings, we regret the response from Finance Secretary John Swinney so far continues to fall short of what needs to be done. "Nonetheless our door remains open in the sincere hope that they will now consider their decision and act in the interests of the Scottish people and the economy." The Liberal Democrats' call for a 2p income tax cut has already been rejected by ministers. Meanwhile, talks have been on-going between ministers and the Greens, who have demanded a £100m-a-year free home insulation scheme. Mr Swinney has offered a lower-price pilot scheme, but Green MSP Patrick Harvie said he did not think his party's demand was unreasonable. He told BBC Scotland: "From a Green perspective, there is a lot of big, bad stuff in this budget. "I know that £100m is a substantial demand, or a substantial request, but there is a substantial amount in this budget we would be asked to overlook if we were to vote for it. "I really hope that John Swinney and others right across the spectrum will see the value of what we are proposing, and that we will see a budget pass this evening." Emergency measures It is thought the Conservatives, whose list of demands includes more action on hospital infections and a town centre regeneration fund, will vote for the budget. Ministers also hope they can secure support from independent MSP Margo Macdonald. The Scottish Government said its budget would support thousands of jobs and bring forward £230m worth of transport, health and education projects to get the economy moving again. It said that rejecting the spending plans would cost Scotland £1.8bn of spending in 2009-10, under emergency measures allowing ministers to spend at the latest version of the current year's budget.
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The debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood 
The Scottish Parliament has narrowly rejected the Scottish government's proposed £33 billion budget.

The devolved parliament was tied 64-64 on the motion to approve the budget after two Green Party MSPs switched away from backing the minority Scottish National Party (SNP) administration. The Presiding Officer (speaker) of the parliament, Alex Fergusson, used his casting vote to reject the budget. Finance Secretary John Swinney of the SNP announced that he would immediately reintroduce it. The budget had the backing of the Scottish Conservatives.

Green MSPs had sought a £100 million, 10-year home insulation scheme, whilst the Scottish government had offered a smaller pilot scheme. This offer was increased as the vote approached but failed to convince the Greens to back the budget.

If a new budget is not in place by the start of the financial year in April, the current budget will rollover. However, Scottish ministers say this will cause a £1.8 billion cut in spending. 

Scotland's GDP fell by 0.8% in the last quarter.