SCOTS PAYING HIGH PRICE FOR SNP FAILINGS
AS the proud product of West Primary School in Paisley, I’m a passionate Unionist. Particularly during my time at the Treasury, I’ve seen the crucial role Scotland plays in Britain’s economy, culture and society.
The UK would not be what it is today without Scotland, and long may our shared success continue.
At the same time as Scotland is key to the UK’s success, so the UK Government plays a vital role in boosting Scotland’s economy – from cutting business taxes to supporting key national industries such as whisky, oil and gas. We have also invested hundreds of millions – above and beyond Barnett money – in crucial economic projects across Scotland, from Moray, to Stirling, to the Tay cities of Dundee and Perth.
Unfortunately, the Scottish Government hasn’t been pulling its weight.
Scotland’s economy grew more slowly than the rest of the UK in 2017/18, which we learned this week has hit tax receipts and will leave the Scottish Government with a shortfall in funding.
It’s not just a few quid either: new figures from HMRC show the Scottish Government raised £941million less than expected.
Our mutually agreed fiscal framework is designed to benefit the Scottish Government if growth in Scotland is faster than the rest of the UK. Thankfully, it also cushions the blow when growth is down in Scotland. So I have confirmed that the Treasury will give £737million additional cash through the block grant to the Scottish Government.
We’re one United Kingdom that stands together, and the UK Government rightly takes a share of the risk when Scottish tax revenues are down.
But it shouldn’t excuse those responsible for this, because it doesn’t take an expert economist to work out what’s going on. The SNP has damaged the economy by choking growth with red tape and allowing the education system to crumble.
What’s more, Scotland is now the highesttaxed part of the UK. Because the Scottish Government didn’t match our threshold changes for higher rate income tax, some Scots are paying £1,500 more than their counterparts in the rest of the UK.
Higher taxes mean less economic growth, less consumer spending and fewer people making the decision to base themselves in a country.
While we are focused on unleashing economic potential and attracting the best and brightest to start businesses, Nationalists are dragging down success with their obsession with banning and taxing.
Education is also crucial to the success of any economy. But in its 12 years in power, the SNP has taken Scotland’s education system from one of the best in Europe to merely the middle of the road.
These aren’t just numbers on a scoreboard – they have real consequences for the Scottish economy as those young people move into the workplace.
I want a Scotland that is booming, setting the standard for economic dynamism and success. A Scotland where every young person has access to the best education they need to succeed in work.
Instead, we have got an utterly inept SNP Government holding back growth, opportunities and prosperity with its high taxes and relentless focus on tearing apart the United Kingdom.
THREE years ago, we kept our promise to make Holyrood one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. The Scotland Act 2016 gave MSPs more power to decide how much to tax the Scottish people and how to spend their money. With the right government in place, this should have worked brilliantly.
The SNP had the power to make decisions faster, and grasp exciting opportunities for the Scottish people. But it hasn’t done so.
The figures published today lay bare the truth: that the SNP’s obsession with independence means Nationalists have taken their eye off the ball, and people in Scotland are paying the price.
The Scottish economy is desperately in need of one thing above all: change.
With Ruth Davidson’s vision, leadership and solid plan focusing on more homes, better infrastructure and skills, and lower taxes, Scotland can once again be a global leader in education, technology and economic growth.
Roll on the day when we ditch this failed SNP Government and put Scotland’s economy back on the top spot where we all know it has the potential to be.