THE Scottish Tories have been urged to ditch their “Dickensian” tax cuts which would see their own MSPs benefit from about £40,000.
The policy, unveiled in the party’s manifesto this week, would bring Scottish tax rates into line with those across the rest of the UK.
There are currently six income tax bands in Scotland, compared to four across the rest of the UK. Workers in Scotland earning less than £25,297 pay the same or lower levels of income tax than in other UK nations.
READ MORE: SNP slam 'Dickensian' Tory tax cut plan for the richest in Scotland
Douglas Ross’s party proposals would get rid of the intermediate rate and increase the threshold at which people start paying the higher rate from £43,663 to £50,271. They would also lower the higher and top rates of tax to 40% and 45%.
The policy, which would give MSPs on £65k a near £1300 tax cut, proves how “out of touch” the party is, the SNP have said. Together, under the proposals, the Tory members would benefit by close to £40,000.
"Beyond the hollow rhetoric, it's the same old Tories – tax cuts for themselves and for the wealthiest in society, and austerity for everyone else,” SNP depute leader Keith Brown (above) said.
"Ross' plans for a Tory tax windfall – which would see his Tory MSP colleagues benefit by around £40,000 in income tax cuts – tells you all you need about the priorities of the Tories at this election.
"Rather than setting out plans to support people get through this crisis, the Tories are more interested in filling their pockets and raiding the NHS budget.
"In stark contrast, the SNP has outlined progressive policies at this election to tackle child poverty, invest in our NHS, and support businesses as we seek to recover from this pandemic.”
Meanwhile, other opposition parties slammed the proposals. Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater (above) said: "Scotland's wealthiest should not be getting a tax break as we look to recover from the pandemic and build a new Scotland, and that includes Tory politicians."
Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie added: “We ought to be talking about fair pay for nurses and social care workers, not tax cuts for Tory MSPs.”
A Scottish Tory spokesperson commented: “As our manifesto makes clear, funding Scotland’s recovery and protecting public services must come first. Tax cuts should only be considered in the future, in a number of years, when we can afford to do so.”
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