The Daily Record leads with a “secrecy” row over the SNP’s leadership contest after two candidates, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, called for transparency in an open letter to chief executive Peter Murrell. Questions have been raised about the exact number of SNP members and the integrity of the voting process. The third candidate, Humza Yousaf, has also said he had “sought assurances” membership figures would be released.
As well as the SNP leadership contest, the Scotsman focuses on the UK government’s Budget. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt insisted the economy is “on the right track” as he used improved public finances to fund tax breaks to businesses and wealthy pensioners, the paper reports.
The Herald says the spending plans have “infuriated” the Scotch whisky industry as alcohol duty was raised by more than 10%. Mr Hunt announced the move “against the wishes of Cabinet colleagues”, the paper reports.
The Times highlights forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility suggesting that, by 2027, freezes to thresholds on income tax and national insurance will be equivalent to a 4p rise on the basic rate of income tax. The paper accuses the chancellor of “waving through” the biggest tax burden since World War Two.
The National brands it a “broken budget” as its front page splash references recent reports that the prime minister’s swimming pool uses so much energy that the local electricity network had to be modified to supply it.
The spending plan will deliver a £320m boost to Scotland’s budget, according to the Scottish Daily Express. It reports the chancellor wants to create a “potential Canary Wharf” north of the border but notes the alcohol duty hike has been described as a “historic blow” by whisky industry chiefs.
Mr Hunt’s plans to extend energy bill support, freeze tax on draught beer and cut fuel duty is described as being part of a “Tory fightback” by the Scottish Daily Mail. The chancellor predicted inflation will drop to 2.9% by the end of the year, the papers notes, claiming it will confound “gloomy experts and Labour”.
Welcome news on fuel and energy bills could be “undone” by warnings of a record fall in living standards, according to the Scottish Sun. Disposable income is forecast to drop by nearly 6% in the next two years, the paper notes.
The Metro leads with the four areas Mr Hunt said he was focusing on in order to deliver economic growth: enterprise, employment, education and everywhere. It adds that he hopes the measures laid out will help “demolish obstacles to work” and persuade up to seven million people back into the workforce.
Six million people will be affected by the “stealth” 4p rise in income tax, according to the i, though the paper also notes forecasts suggesting that inflation is expected to fall from the current rate of 10.1% to just under 3% by the end of 2023.
The Budget announcement was overshadowed by concerning news from the continent, according to the Telegraph. The paper says that officials from the Bank of England held emergency talks with international counterparts after stock markets tumbled on Wednesday amid fears of a “potential financial disaster” at Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse. It adds that Switzerland’s central bank has pledged Credit Suisse will be propped up if necessary.
The Glasgow Times leads with concerns about Mr Hunt’s plan to introduce tougher sanctions for people on Universal Credit who do not have health conditions in a bid to increase the UK’s workforce.
An Edinburgh schoolboy has been hailed as a “very talented and popular kid” following his sudden death. Andrew MacKinnon collapsed while playing football at Forrester High School, the Edinburgh Evening News reports.
The Press and Journal has published the “staggering” results of a reader survey which found 90% of females say they avoid areas of Aberdeen and believe their gender “makes them a target for attackers”. Almost 83% of women told the paper they are scared to go out alone at night.
The Evening Express leads with a report on a 50-year-old man who has died after being assaulted in Aberdeen city centre, near Union Square. A 45-year-old man had appeared in court in connection with the attack.
Violence in Fife schools has doubled in the past two years, the Courier reports. It says the local authority has ordered a report into the issue after the paper highlighted violent incidents involving pupils.
And the Evening Telegraph warns Dundee city centre is becoming a “ghost town” after recent shop closures – including Farmfoods, Wilkies and Game.
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