Scottish Labour reveals plans for tax hikes amid call for honest debate

Scottish Labour proposed a series of tax rises and called for an “honest” debate about public services funding as it launched its vision for local government.

Deputy Leader Alex Rowley said Labour would put an extra penny on income tax, reintroduce a 50p tax rate for the highest earners and give local authorities the power to levy a tourist tax and a land value tax.

Starting Scottish Labour’s local election campaign, Mr Rowley also renewed Labour’s pledge to scrap the council tax and replace it with a fairer system.

Less than four months out from the May election, Labour’s document Our Vision for Local Government was unveiled by Mr Rowley at an event in Edinburgh, which was not attended by Scottish 0 Alex Rowley revealed plans for a land value tax Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

When asked if the document amounted to a “quadruple whammy” of taxes, Mr Rowley replied: “We need some honesty into politics.”

Mr Rowley said families were struggling to get care packages and cash was required to close the education attainment gap.

“So what I’m saying is that we have got to have an honest discussion about the type of public services we want and how we pay for those public services,” Mr Rowley said.

Under Labour’s plans, Labour would devolve the power to local government to charge a tourist tax on each hotel night per person. The maximum charge would be £2 per night, which, according to Labour, allows up to £70 million to be raised each year.

Councils would also be given the powers to tax more than 10,000 hectares of vacant, economically inactive land. The rate would be limited to four per cent of the land value – giving a revenue potential of £75m.

The Scottish Tories condemned Labour’s plans. Tourism spokeswoman Rachael Hamilton said: “This document shows again Labour’s only plan is to hit hardworking people in the pocket, at home and now even abroad.”