Furious SNP voters slam ‘ridiculous’ car levy
Nicola Sturgeon sent angry letters Airline workers question commute
Angry SNP voters have written to Scottish ministers complaining about “unfair” plans to introduce a workplace parking tax.
The workplace parking levy was one of the key parts of a deal between the SNP and the Greens, allowing the minority administration to get its tax and spending plans through Holyrood in January.
Councils will be given the power to impose the tax through an amendment to proposed transport legislation going through the Scottish Parliament.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among those to receive letters from angry SNP members vowing to pull support for the party over the planned tax.
The letters were revealed following a Freedom of Information request from the Scottish Conservatives.
One wrote: “I’ve voted for the SNP for the last 44 years ... but this ridiculous tax on workers driving to work is totally wrong.” They said driving to their workplace takes 15 to 20 minutes, but would take an hour-and-a-half and two buses to reach by public transport.
The person vowed to resign their party membership if the tax goes ahead.
Another wrote: “I have always been an SNP supporter and voter, a quick check would also confirm I was a party member.
“I do appreciate the Scottish Government say it’s up to local authorities to action the tax or not.
“However, I have absolutely no shadow of doubt that [Snprun] Glasgow City Council and others will seize the opportunity to raise revenue via this unfair tax and it will fall on people like me to just stump up because employers won’t take the cost, for the simple reason – why would they?”
The shift worker said using buses to get work would add two hours to his commute.
More than a dozen employees of airline Loganair working at Glasgow Airport wrote to Mr Mackay opposing the levy, saying: “It is unfair and unreasonable to impose a workplace car park tax when I have no realistic alternative to using my car.”
The GMB union also wrote opposing the tax, while the Scottish Association of Social Workers called for the NHS exemption to be extended to their staff.
A lifelong SNP supporter wrote to transport secretary Michael Matheson expressing “disgust” at the tax and vowing never to vote SNP again, saying the party comes across as “flippant and smirky”.
One charity worker said the charge would be “game over” for them as they cannot afford to pay.
The Scottish Conservatives claim the tax could cost workers up to £500 a year.
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