I welcomed the positive funding announcements for Orkney within the draft Scottish Budget in my column at the start of December, and the recent confirmation that Orkney Islands Council (OIC) will see a significant increase in funding feels like an early Christmas present for the islands.

Orkney’s total in 2025-26 will rise to £106.0 million, an increase of £10.4 million. This is a full 10.9% more than last year’s figure of £95.6 million – the biggest percentage rise in Scotland.

Local authorities such as OIC provide key services to our communities – from schools to social care – which is why Orkney’s increase is part of a £1 billion boost from the Scottish Government compared with last year’s Budget.

However, this funding will only reach Orkney and other communities across Scotland if the Scottish Budget receives cross-party support in the new year. With that in mind, I hope that Orkney’s MSP, Liam McArthur, will recognise the major benefits that this funding hike will bring to his constituency, on top of the inclusion of £10 million for island connectivity.

In another boost to island businesses, up to 100% non-domestic rates relief for hospitality businesses on Scotland’s islands and specified remote areas will continue in 2025-26, again subject to the Budget passing.

Around 100,000 properties will continue to be taken out of rates altogether.

Of course, the focus of the Scottish Budget as set out by Shona Robison was the tackling of child poverty, and last week I was able to ask Shirley-Anne Somerville, as Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, how the Scottish Government is tackling child poverty, including in the Highlands and Islands.

This includes investment in the Scottish Child Payment and the increased investment in affordable housing, and also investment to expand breakfast clubs and the expansion of free school meals to pupils in Primary 6 and 7 who receive the Scottish Child Payment.

However, I also pressed Shirley-Anne on how much further we could go if Scotland had the powers of a normal, independent country.

And this is a key point when budgets are tight – at home and country-wide.

This year the SNP Government at Holyrood is spending £134 million mitigating damaging United Kingdom Government policies.

That includes mitigating the bedroom tax, the benefit cap and other policies, at the same time as spending nearly £500 million on the Scottish Child Payment, which is unique in the UK.

Next year we will be mitigating the two-child cap, which will remain in place at a UK level, and also the scrapping of the universal winter fuel payment. Imagine what Scotland could do if it wasn’t spending millions protecting its people from these UK policies.

While the UK Government makes decisions that damage the lives of folk in Orkney and across Scotland, the SNP will take action, but with independence we could do so much more.

As we come to the end of 2024, I wish you all a happy festive season and a healthy, fairer and more prosperous 2025 when it comes.

This is a regular column by SNP MSP Emma Roddick. All Highlands and Islands MSPs have been offered the same space in The Orkney News to share their personal views.