Halt this punishing new tax, Nicola

SCOTLAND’S tourism industry has suffered often intolerable pressure over recent years.

The coronavirus pandemic had a devastating impact on the hospitality sector and those businesses which weathered the storm did so thanks, in large part, to the intervention of the UK Treasury.

Sadly, the Scottish Government does not appear to share Westminster’s commitment to helping entrepreneurs.

The SNP’s licensing scheme for shortterm rental properties will punish owners and drive up prices for visitors. At any time, this would be a foolish thing to do. Right now, it is unforgivable.

Nicola Sturgeon’s nationalist government would have us believe that those who own rental properties are part of some super-elite which must be taxed in the name of progressive politics.

The reality is rather different. There are almost 18,000 self-catering properties in Scotland. Their rental contributes £867 million to the economy and provides almost 24,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

The First Minister’s record shows she takes little interest in the needs of business. And when she does intervene, it is to punish rather than encourage.

The possibility of a legal challenge against the Government’s costly licensing scheme is, therefore, to be welcomed. The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers has instructed legal opinion on such a challenge, potentially citing European convention laws on rights to work.

Right now, people fear for their livelihoods as the cost of living crisis mounts. This is a time for the Government to show it is on the side of those trying to keep businesses afloat.

Instead, Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP prefers to increase the pressure on those it should be encouraging.