Budget: Fife Council Braced

There's a warning frontline services in Fife will suffer if swingeing cuts are announced in tomorrow's budget.

Chancellor George Osborne is poised to cut £12 billion from welfare meaning more than 22, 000 families in Fife could see their tax credits cut.

Barnardo’s Scotland is urging politicians not to cut tax credits. The charity is campaigning to halt plans to change tax credits. It says the UK Government should instead focus on tackling the low wages and high living costs that drive hardship amongst families. It is asking people in Fife to email their MP with this message - to support the campaign visit www.barnardos.org.uk

Fife Council leader David Ross believes further cuts will hamper future growth:

The local authority must save £77 million by 2019.

Mr Ross believes any cuts will make that target harder to achieve: