Boosting Growth Rates, Not Raising Tax, Will Be Labour Leader Keir Starmer's Priority
Key Highlights :
Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, has criticised the SNP/Green Government in Scotland for raising income tax. He said that voters on “moderate” pay will be “very resistant” to paying more income tax and proposed a better approach of focusing on growing the economy instead.
The SNP/Green Government has used its powers to increase income tax for better off Scots. An “intermediate” rate of 21% is levied on income between £25,689 and £43,662, compared to the 20 per cent rate in England. The higher and additional rates are 42 and 47 per cent respectively, compared to 40 and 45 per cent in England.
The Scottish Ministers are also looking at another increase on income between £75,000 to £125,000. When asked about the prospect of a further rise, Starmer told the Record: “If I was on a moderate income in Scotland, and a government that has failed to deliver came asking me for more tax, I would be very resistant.”
Starmer believes that the key to avoiding further tax increases is to focus on boosting economic growth. He said if growth had been the same under the Tories as it had been under the last Labour Government then there would have been “tens of billions” more to spend on public services without raising tax.
He added: “That’s the aspiration of the incoming Labour Government.” He believes that the best way to improve the lives of Scots is to focus on boosting economic growth, rather than raising taxes.
Keir Starmer has made it clear that boosting growth rates, not raising tax, will be his priority as Labour leader. He believes that further tax increases will be met with resistance from those on moderate incomes in Scotland and instead proposes focusing on economic growth as the best way to improve the lives of Scots.
