Davidson hits out at SNP’s ‘broken promises’ on tax

Ruth Davidson has attacked the Scottish Government’s “broken promises” on income tax, as she demanded an apology from ministers to taxpayers who were “misled” that their bills would not rise.

In the run-up to the 2016 Holyrood election, the SNP had pledged not to increase the basic rate of the levy during the whole five years of the parliamentary term.

But it is now widely expected that Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will use December’s Scottish Budget to bring in an income tax hike, after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon signalled it was time for a discussion on the “responsible and progressive” use of Holyrood’s tax powers.

Former finance secretary John Swinney – who was standing in for Ms Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions yesterday after she was involved in climate change talks in Germany – said the Scottish Government would have to make some “real hard decisions”.

Despite speculation that income tax is about to rise, the deputy first minister said the SNP would “stand shoulder-toshoulder with low income households in Scotland and take the right decisions to protect their incomes”.

Mr Swinney hit back after coming under sustained attack from the Scottish Conservative leader on the issue.

Ms Davidson said: “The truth is the SNP wheeled out Mr Swinney, ‘honest John’, before the election to tell people that their taxes wouldn’t go up, and as soon as they got back in those promises turned to dust.”

Ruth Davidson sought an apology from ministers.