20,000 in Moray to pay higher taxes
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has criticised SNP budget proposals which will see 20,000 people in Moray pay higher taxes than other parts of the United Kingdom.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay confirmed that everyone being paid more than £26,000 – including nurses, primary teachers and police officers – would pay more under his plans. This increase will hit an estimated 1.2 million workers cross Scotland.
Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“We now know an estimated 20,000 people in Moray will be hit by the SNP’s tax increases. These hit thousands of middle-income earners, after the SNP reversed their manifesto commitment not to increase the basic rate of income tax.
“This has been the very worst sort of deception for people across Scotland, many of who were told by Nicola Sturgeon only last year that their taxes would not increase.
“These proposals will make it more difficult to attract and retain skilled workers to the Highlands and Islands and will have a negative impact on our economy and the public services that we all rely on.”