The Scottish Liberal Democrat leader has said there are still 'fundamental problems in ideologies' between his party and the SNP ahead of the Scottish Budget which will be announced in just over a week. 

Reiterating what he told The Herald over a week ago,  Mr Cole-Hamilton said this morning any spending on independence from the government would be "a massive misuse of public funds no matter how small" and his party would vote down a budget containing this. 

However, the Greens have since told the SNP it will be “impossible” for them to back the Budget if the government cuts spending on independence.

Speaking on the BBC Sunday Show, the Scottish Lib Dem leader said: “I don’t see any circumstance where any liberal democrat could vote for a budget with spending money on the constitution when they were given that clear message from the people of Scotland."

Asked about whether his party would abstain on the Scottish Budget overall, Mr Cole-Hamilton said this is not what his party are “looking to do.” 

However, today The Herald on Sunday revealed his party is considering abstaining on the Budget in a move which could allow the government's financial plans to pass. 

It is understood civil servants are working out the costs of the some of the LibDems' policy proposals with a meeting expected between the government and the party at the start of next month.

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The Scottish Lib Dem leader said if there is so much as a penny spent on independence, his party would vote the budget down. 

Mr Cole-Hamilton added: “The public sent the SNP a clear message in the General Election that they are done with the constitution, they want to move ahead on the issues that matter to them."

Finance Secretary Shona Robison will deliver the Scottish Budget on December 4. The minority Scottish Government is currently engaged in talks with opposition parties to pass its tax and spending plans. The government needs to garner support from opposition MSPs in order to get through  its Budget. 

Last week, the Lib Dem leader told members at his party's conference the SNP would have to “move mountains” to ensure their support. 

Speaking on the BBC Sunday Show, Mr Cole-Hamilton said there are "fundamental problems in ideologies" between the SNP and Lib Dems. 

“In a parliament of minority, it’s incumbent on all parties to try and forge a way ahead with the government and we have met with them on a couple of occasions," Mr Cole-Hamilton said, "The direction of travel is reasonably positive but there is still a massive gulf between us.” 

The Liberal Democrat leader was also asked about the Assisted Dying Bill being brought forward by one of his MSPs. 

If passed, it will allow terminally ill adults in Scotland, who are eligible, to lawfully request, and be provided with, assistance by health professionals to end their own life

However, uncertainty over support amongst MSPs in recent days suggests numbers may not be there to pass the proposed legislation. 

Similar legislation will be voted on in the UK parliament on Friday. 

In October, Health Secretary Neil Gray said  the bill in its current form is outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.

However, Liam McArthur, the MSP brining forward the bill, said he was "very confident" the UK and Scottish governments could find a solution if his bill was backed by MSPs.

This morning, Mr Cole-Hamilton remained positive when it came to the proposals being brought into legislation. However, he used the conditional "could" when referring to the chances of it being made law. 

Asked on the programme if Liam McArthur had the support for his bill, Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “I think we do. It could well pass.”

Speaking ahead of the budget, Mr Cole-Hamilton said the “economic incompetence” of the SNP - through delays to the dualling of the A9 and the delays to the delivery of ferries for island communities - has led him to believe that the “change Scotland really needs is a change of government.” 

Mr Cole-Hamilton said: “I would love an election. I think Scotland needs an election. It’s actually very difficult in the terms of the Scottish Parliament to actually bring the government down. If the budget doesn’t pass then you see things like local government funding settlements not being made, people stop being made.

"The people of this country will then rightly turn on the parties that made this happen. I’d love an election but it’s just not feasible.”

Mr Cole-Hamilton listed the need for more investment for local government and further funding for healthcare as asks from his party. 

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government is working to prioritise our resources in line with the First Minister's priorities of ending child poverty, growing the economy, investing in public services and supporting the path to net zero.

“Ministers are committed to building as broad support as possible across Parliament in order to deliver the forthcoming budget. Engagement with all parties is ongoing ahead of the draft budget being set out in the Scottish Parliament on 4 December.”