{"id":122438,"date":"2023-12-16T06:29:52","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T06:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/?p=122438"},"modified":"2023-12-16T06:29:52","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T06:29:52","slug":"snp-told-the-stats-dont-lie-after-figures-show-tax-claim-is-bogus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cottontailsonline.com\/politics\/snp-told-the-stats-dont-lie-after-figures-show-tax-claim-is-bogus\/","title":{"rendered":"SNP told ‘the stats don\u2019t lie’ after figures show tax claim is ‘bogus’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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An SNP claim that the majority of Scots pay less tax than the rest of the UK has been rubbished by a rival party.<\/p>\n

According to analysis by the Scottish Conservatives, the claim no longer applies due to rising wages. Last year\u2019s SNP budget meant that anyone earning above \u00a327,850 a year pays more income tax than someone on the same salary elsewhere in the UK.<\/p>\n

But rising wages means that now, the median annual salary in Scotland is \u00a329,675. As a result, a claim by former deputy chair of the SNP John Swinney made when he announced the budget can no longer be true. Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Liz Smith MSP said: \u201cThe stats don\u2019t lie: John Swinney\u2019s claim a year ago that the majority of Scots pay less income tax under the SNP is simply bogus.<\/p>\n

READ MORE <\/strong> BBC’s Fiona Bruce shatters SNP’s independence dream in just three words<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is the point at which workers in Scotland pay more tax than they would in England is almost \u00a32,000 below the median annual wage.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor years, the SNP have tried to justify the damaging and ever-widening tax gap with the rest of the UK on the grounds that those on average earnings were paying less \u2013 albeit by a miniscule amount. Now even that claim doesn\u2019t stack up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Introducing the 2023-24 budget to Holyrood in December 2022, Mr Swinney said: \u201cThe majority of people in Scotland will still pay less in taxation than if they lived in the rest of the United Kingdom.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rise in salary represents an increase of 6.4 percent on the year prior. It comes as the SNP reels from Humza Yousaf\u2019s plan to increase taxes to fill a \u00a31.5billion hole in the Scottish government’s finances.<\/p>\n

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The party of Scottish Independence reportedly intends to introduce a 44 percent band north of the border from April. It could be applied to Scots’ earnings between around \u00a375,000 and \u00a3125,140, when the 47 percent top rate kicks in.<\/p>\n

Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray warned the new levy could accelerate a \u201cbrain drain\u201d from Scotland, teling the Evening Standard: \u201cThe SNP already have Scots paying the highest tax rates anywhere in the UK, and their failure to grow Scotland\u2019s economy mean they\u2019re looking to increase it even more.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey need to grow the tax base not milk it with the consequence of more brain drain to London.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conservatives have accused Mr Yousaf of trying to \u201ctax his way out\u201d of trouble after \u201castonishing mismanagement\u201d of Scotland’s finances.<\/p>\n

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