Greens: Progress on fairer tax must go further
The use of devolved income tax powers has made Scotland more progressive, but progress muse not be allowed to stall, Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has said.
Speaking ahead of the Scottish Parliament voting on this year’s Scottish Rate Resolution, Patrick Harvie said: “The Scottish Greens have already won Scotland a more progressive income tax system, which ensures the rich pay a bit more while the majority pay less. This is the single most important element in protecting Scotland from the inequality which has resulted from UK Government policies, but on its own it is not enough.
“We have also won extra revenue-raising powers for councils, and we’re making progress on reforming the broken council tax system. But there is still far more to do to eradicate poverty and close the inequality gap in Scotland, from ending poverty pay to improving the social security system and creating new ways of cutting people’s costs, like our landmark achievement on free bus travel for young people.
"The taxation system must still play a bigger role in Scotland. It must be fairer and reflect our ambitions to create a new, more equal European country. Like on so many things, the SNP remain fundamentally cautious on this. The Greens will therefore abstain on the SNP’s rate resolution, but we also commit to bringing forward bold new policies to end poverty and cut inequality, which will feature in our offer to voters next year.”