A petty little tax raid

THE drive to work hard and provide for one’s family isn’t good only for the individual – it creates a better society for everyone.

Those who strive to get on set a valuable example to their children and, beyond that, the higher taxes they pay benefit every person in the country.

So we make no apology for standing on the side of those families whose efforts make a real and positive difference.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for the Scottish Government, which seems to view hardworking families as cash cows to be milked.

As soon as new tax powers were transferred to Scotland, last year, the SNP announced a raid on earnings.

Rather than wisely using these powers to incentivise industriousness, the Nationalists’ followed their instinct to punish rather than reward workers.

Predictably, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her ministers are not yet satisfied that middle class families have been squeezed hard enough.

Yesterday, it emerged that the Scottish Government is considering scrapping council tax discounts for those who live alone or own vacant properties. What a petty little plan that is.

This will only place a greater burden on those who already pay their fair share.

As we reported yesterday, almost £1.3billion worth of council tax payments have gone uncollected by town hall chiefs.

Perhaps the First Minister might consider this before picking the pockets of people who play by the rules and settle their bills every month.