Finance minister will pay a third LESS as firms struggle

DEREK Mackay’s own constituency office rates bill will fall by almost a third – as he ignores calls for a freeze from firms facing huge hikes.

The Finance Secretary – who is also the Nationalist MSP for Renfrewshire North and West – has a small base on Hairst Street, in Renfrew.

His business rates will fall for the second successive time in April, from £1,742.40 to £1,258.40.

Murdo Fraser, Scots Tory finance spokesman, said: ‘While his office will be counting the extra cash, businesses face going to the wall.’ Mr Mackay said yesterday: ‘Rating valuation is undertaken by independent assessors and neither the Scottish Government nor the SNP has any locus or input in this process.’

Mariessa Devlin runs the Enchanted Forest nursery in Erskine, near Mr Mackay’s constituency, which is facing a 108 per cent rise.

In today’s Scottish Mail on Sunday she urges him to visit her and hear about the potential consequences of the tax hike.