Tories: SNP plans 'ridiculous'

Thursday, 04, Sep 2008 12:00

Commenting on the Scottish Government’s legislative programme, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said:

"The SNP's plan to introduce a new national income tax - a levy on living in Scotland - has been roundly ridiculed and rubbished in the minority government's own consultation. The SNP is clinging to spurious claims that 80 pr cent of households will be better off. But that dodgy analysis is based on a false premise: it compares a subsidised new tax with an unsubsidised council tax.

"If the SNP can promise a tax cut of £281 million to subsidise its unfair and unworkable income tax, then how much lower could council tax be if that same money were used to in the cut all current council tax bills? The key question to the SNP is this. When the local income tax bill fails, what will you do with the £281 million?

"Scottish Conservatives would spend it better. We would cut the bills of every council tax payer. Then 100 per cent of households would be better off."