Nicola skips tax vote for French trip

NICOLA Sturgeon will today miss a crucial vote where the SNP’s controversial plans to widen the tax gap with the rest of the UK will scrape through.

The First Minister will instead address the lower house of the French parliament. It means the proposals will be rubber-stamped without her formal consent, with the Greens set to abstain.

Scottish Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon was in America when the car park tax was announced, and now she is in Paris when her Government widens the income tax gap between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

‘Nicola Sturgeon has broken her promise to the Scottish people and is raising taxes – running away will not fool anyone.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘At this time of maximum Brexit uncertainty it is more important than ever that the Scottish Government engage with European and international partners.’