Scottish Labour’s plans for a 1p hike in income tax have already fallen to pieces, the Scottish Conservatives said today.
Yesterday, Kezia Dugdale pledged to hike Scots’ income tax by one per cent but critics were quick to slam the move, which will hit every basic rate taxpayer in the pocket, damage jobs and cripple the economy.
And despite being the architect of the ‘Penny for Scotland’ campaign in 1999, John Swinney even criticised the plan saying it would “punish workers”.
The Scottish Conservatives believe a tax rise would hammer the pockets of hard-working families and believe no one should have to pay more tax in Scotland than in the rest of the UK.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
"Scottish Labour's tax hike on every working family in Scotland hasn't lasted 48 hours before falling to pieces.
"This tax hike was always based on a ridiculous merry-go-round - under which the lowest paid would first have their taxes raised, and then be told to queue up at the Council with their pay slip in hand after the end of the financial year in order to ask for their own money back.
"We learn today that Labour can't even explain how this can work or whether it is even possible under the law. Meanwhile, Labour politicians criticise their opponents for having the temerity to ask for details.
"This is, quite simply, a tax shambles from a party which has completely lost the plot."
Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser added:
“We have always believed that people in Scotland should not be taxed more highly than those in the rest of the United Kingdom.
“Labour are in a mess along with the Lib Dems who want to clobber hard working Scottish families.
“Our package of proposals would put the Scottish economy first and foremost, always conscious of the fact that a growing economy is necessary to widen the tax base, and increase the tax rate.
“The Scottish Conservatives are happy to go into the coming election as the only party defending hard-pressed Scottish households who feel that they are already contributing quite enough to government coffers.”