A tax for Utopia

I understand why the Snpled Scottish Government is constantly vilified by the majority of the British Press, but to say it is not a radical government is ridiculous. While the divided Unionist parties are bogged down in the shambles that is Brexit, the SNP, with social democratic policies, has tried for several years to gather cross-party support for a “radical” new land tax.

In fact, an excellent presentation on annual ground rent (AGR) given by Graeme Mccormack was overwhelmingly endorsed at last autumn’s SNP conference. This very “radical” one-off land tax system would be so much more efficient and fairer to all. It would replace all current taxation, including income tax, saving the government billions and benefiting every section of society, while providing proper funding for our public services.

It is interesting to note that Mr Mccormack was refused permission to present his plan at all the other political conferences in Scotland.

Let us, rather, rejoice in the recent caring and progressive Scottish Government budget based on equality and fairness making Scotland the most fairly taxed country in the UK and not the highest taxed, as the Tories wrongly maintain. No British Unionist party has had the courage to raise taxes, even minimally, to protect and support public bodies such as the NHS. As the UK Government continues to slash the Scottish budget, finance secretary Derek Mackay should be applauded for this moderate new taxation policy which protects those on lower incomes while those who earn more contribute a little more to society. In fact, seven out of ten people in Scotland will pay the same or less in income tax under these proposals.

I guess that if the SNP were ever able to achieve world peace, Tory, Labour and Liberal politicians would still moan!

GRANT FRAZER Cruachan, Newtonmore

We learn from next April that the SNP, backed by their fellow nationalists, the Greens, have determined that 45 per cent of those paying income tax in Scotland will pay more than anywhere else in the UK.

So must we assume Nicola Sturgeon has given up on recruiting much-needed doctors, senior nurses and teachers from the most obvious recruiting ground: England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh