Johnson in permanent taxation promise to military in Scotland

Boris Johnson has pledged to protect forces personnel from “unfair” taxes in Scotland if a Conservative majority is elected.

Announcing the measure today the prime minister claimed those serving in the military were paid as much as £2,200 less than others in the rest of the UK.

For the past two years, Westminster has temporarily paid the difference for soldiers, marines, sailors and air force personnel, but Johnson has now pledged to make the move permanent.

He said: “The SNP hits its citizens with a whack of extra tax every year, meaning all workers can take home less of their hard-earned wages.

“It is not fair that our armed forces based in Scotland should earn less than the personnel they serve alongside in the rest of the country.

“That’s why over the past two years we have paid the difference in extra tax so that our service personnel are not penalised for living in Scotland, saving them up to £2,200 each.

“And now we will go further, ensuring that tax mitigation is permanent, giving certainty to our service men and women that they will never have to pay the SNP’s higher taxes.”

Douglas Ross, the Conservative candidate for Moray, which includes RAF Lossiemouth, welcomed the move, describing it as “great news”, adding: “I’m delighted by this pledge to make that permanent.”

Moray’s SNP MSP Richard Lochhead was unimpressed with the announcement however, and said: “It sounds to me like Boris Johnson had one too many drams when he visited Moray the other week, this is just rehashed election press releases.

“Not only that, he also fails to acknowledge the fact that lower paid army personnel benefit from Scotland’s tax regime.

“Does this announcement mean Scots soldiers based in England will be provided with free tuition fees and all the other benefits that the SNP are delivering through devolution?”