Labour renews calls for 50p top tax rate as more high earners revealed

Labour has renewed calls for the Scottish Government to introduce a 50p top rate of tax as new analysis predicts those eligible to pay it have almost doubled since 2010.

Labour’s analysis of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data shows that the number of individual additional rate taxpayers in Scotland – those with a total taxable income over £150,000 – is projected to increase by 91 per cent between 2010-11 and 2017-18, rising from 11,000 to 21,000.

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “Labour supports a 50p top rate of tax 0 Kezia Dugdale said richest shold pay their ‘fair share’ because we think the richest should pay their fair share.

“It can’t be right that levels of working poverty are at their highest since the Scottish Parliament was established, but the SNP still won’t ask the richest to pay a little more in tax.”

SNP MSP Ash Denham said: “The SNP’S position is very clear: we back a 50p top rate of tax across the UK, but to do it in Scotland alone with our current powers could risk losing millions of pounds in revenues given the possibility of cross-border tax avoidance .

“That would mean less money for vital public services. But we have also made clear we will keep the situation under review.”

She said her party is “making taxation fairer” with the powers it has and SNP tax policies “mean there is more money to pay for schools, hospitals and other public services”.