MORE than half of Scots will receive an income tax cut thanks to the SNP government’s 2018 budget, MSP Rona Mackay has said.
The Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP welcomed the tax cut as stage 3 of the Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill was laid before the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.
Around 70 per cent of taxpayers will pay no more income tax than they currently do and high earners will be contributing more to make up for a decade of Tory austerity.
The changes to income tax in Scotland will see a modest increase for those earning more than £33,000 and those under will keep more of their pay – 70 per cent of Scots will see no increase and 55 per cent will pay less than anywhere else in the UK.
The budget will also deliver an additional £400 million for the NHS, an expansion in childcare, more spending on broadband, extra funding for our police and fire services, and a pay rise for hard-working public sector employees.
Ms Mackay said: “After years and years of the UK Tory government hacking away at Scotland’s public purse, the time has come for a modest income tax increase on the minority who earn the highest wages.
“I am delighted that more than half of income taxpayers in Scotland will be paying less than anywhere else in the UK and that on the whole, 70 per cent of Scots will see no rise in their income tax.
“This budget brings an additional £400 million to NHS Scotland, delivers a pay rise for public sector workers, £756 million for affordable homes, additional funding for the arts and culture sector, a £4 billion investment in infrastructure, including in superfast broadband, as well as significant investments in research, education and childcare.
“I will be voting it through to protect vital public services across the length and breadth of Strathkelvin and Bearsden.”
ENDS