SNP accused of ‘hypocrisy’ for ditching airline tax cut
● Action to tackle change emergency ● Jobs and economy to suffer
The Scottish Government has been accused of “hypocrisy” after abandoning a pledge to cut airline taxes.
Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar warned Scotland’s global reputation would be damaged by the decision to formally drop the planned cut in air departure tax.
The commitment to cut the tax by 50 per cent had been part of the SNP’S manifesto for the 2016 elections.
But environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham yesterday confirmed they would not be going ahead with the proposed reduction in the wake of the SNP government declaring a “climate emergency”.
The head of Scotland’s biggest airport has launched a stinging attack on the Scottish Government over “failed promises” and “hypocrisy” after a pledge to cut airline taxes was ditched.
Gordon Dewar warned the move would damage Scotland’s global reputation and investment in jobs across the country after the planned cut in air departure tax (ADT) was formally dropped by Scottish ministers.
The pledge to cut ADT by 50 per cent had been in the SNP’S manifesto for the 2016 elections and was at the heart of its economic blueprint for economic growth in the 2014 independence referendum.
Environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced yesterday ministers would commit to not proceeding with the proposed reduction as the party faced pressure from Labour, which has brought a vote at Holyrood on the issue this afternoon.
But Mr Dewar, chief executive at Edinburgh Airport, said: “We’ve gone from personal commitments to allout cancellation in the space of just two weeks, which shows just how reactionary this decision is. It does not show leadership and means airports and airlines have been led down a path of failed promises for three years by this Scottish Government.” He added: “The Scottish Government continues to implement a successful cut in APD [air passenger duty[ in Inverness, which has delivered fantastic economic benefits, and persists on propping up a failing airport at Prestwick to the tune of £40 million and counting, so this is sheer hypocrisy.”
The pledge to reduce ADT has already been delayed and was never likely to be introduced as it may jeopardise the SNP’S relationship with the pro-independence Greens.
Mr Dewar insisted airlines had made major inroads in cutting carbon emissions and said it was wrong to single out the airline industry.
“It not only punishes families and those who work hard to afford a holiday by enforcing one of the highest aviation taxes anywhere in the world, but will restrict our future connectivity, investment into Scotland and job creation as we sacrifice Scotland’s international outlook,” he said.
But ms cunningham insisted tough choices had to be made to tackle global warming.
“Following the First Minister’s declaration of a climate emergency last week and the recommendations from the UK Committee on Climate Change, we have moved quickly to increase Scotland’s emissions reduction targets, which will now be the most stringent in the world,” she said.
Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Liz Cameron described the decision as “an alarming U-turn”. “This decision will do nothing to reduce emissions,” she said. “Instead, it will cut Scotland off at the knees in terms of connectivity and a competitive playing field.”