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SNP hits out at Treasury's local income tax claim



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THE Scottish Government today dismissed as "nonsense" a Treasury claim that its flagship local income tax policy could not be implemented.
The policy falls foul of the Scotland Act, which set up the devolved settlement, since the tax would be set and collected centrally, the Treasury said.

But justice minister Kenny MacAskill insisted this view was wrong and accused London of trying to undermine the policy.

Under the devolution settlement, local government finance is a devolved matter.

But a Treasury spokesman said: "It has to be set, spent and collected locally to be a devolved matter.

"There would have to be a change under the Scotland Act to change this definition if (the SNP] wanted to introduce a properly devolved tax.

Mr MacAskill told BBC Radio Scotland today the Treasury view was "nonsense".

He said: "The Treasury would be better off sorting out their own mess of abolishing the 10p tax rate."

The justice minister went on to insist "We are not in breach of the Scotland Act."





The full article contains 177 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 09 April 2008 1:12 PM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish National Party
 
1

Farky,

Edinburgh 09/04/2008 13:26:13
Westminster trying to rock the boat again..?
I do think so. Another reason why we should rasie our own finance and spend it how we like also. Ahh... INDEPENDENCE!
2

WL,

livingston 09/04/2008 14:16:18
Of course the colonial government in england knows what is best for Scotland. OR DO THEY ?
3

Jock 107,

09/04/2008 14:35:23
Let's face it, Holyrood is little more than a trumped up council, regardless of who runs it.

Labour had plenty of time to try something new like this, but were beholden to their London masters. The Nationalists are trying it, with the main motivation of picking a fight. And before I get flamed for that last bit, if they weren't trying to pick a fight, they would have thought all this through first. Easy.
4

Edward,

09/04/2008 14:41:16
Understand that the 'Treasury Spokesman' is Ms Yvette Cooper, wife of Ed Balls, freind of Gordon Brown
5

Birnamo,

Edinburgh 09/04/2008 14:43:48
The U.K. government seems hell bent upon reducing devolution to local council status. Des Browne, Yvette Cooper and of course the Brown imminence are fighting party political battles without any sniff of impartiality and peddling the deeply seated mantras which we in Scotland are just escaping from by virtue of our minority parliament. Dealing with Holyrood has almost become a pleasure post the May election. Letters are answered and do not decay into mantra and self selling confusion.

The Westminster phraseology shows no awareness that the Scottish Parliament is Scotland's Legislative body and is fully entitled to have views and policies hatched many miles from the Westminster village.

The argument that a local income tax is unfair is a bit bizarre. Of course those with two incomes coming into a house will pay more than a pensioner on meagre income and that is the very basis of fair taxation based upon the ability to pay. The Brown 10% tax abolition rather rubs in the reality of Brownian movements.

The rejigging of an already politcally biassed Westminster tax system will not be easy but all credit to John Swinney for making an intelligent effort to come up with a better plan.

The way the London based parties are raising hurdles does them little credit. The Scottish Office has little relevance post devolution and the post of Secretary of State should be quietly dropped.

6

Edward,

09/04/2008 14:44:34
Just another Labour ploy to try and discredit the Scottish Government
According to the Scotland Act, the Scottish Government can and does have tax raising powers on a national scale upto and including 3p in the £ 1
According to the Scotland Act this would be and can be collected by the same agency that collects PAYE, thats is HM Revenue and customs
and according to the same Scotland Act, those taxes raised nationaly can be used to finance local authorities
7

RCI,

Lanarkshire 09/04/2008 16:02:30
No comment from Labour's Scottish Puppet - Wendy Alexander?

Or is she on a "gagging" order at the moment ?

Time to leave the corrupt, inept and bloated Westminster feeding trough and take charge of our own affairs.

Independence - Independence - Independence
8

Alan B,

09/04/2008 16:07:50
Labour really is trying to search for any loophole in the scotland act to try to subvert the wishes of the democratically elected scottish parliament.

It really does show the level to which brown will sink.
9

,

09/04/2008 16:17:34
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10

,

09/04/2008 16:19:39
Comment Removed By Administrator
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11

CrazyJock,

Falkirk 09/04/2008 16:26:24
I must be missing something and it looks like most of you failed your arithmetic at school as well.

So rather than become another SNP poodle. Lets face facts - the numbers don't add up - we have loads on the dole and unless someone can come up with real figures,eg we will all need to pay 40p in the £1 for independance lets stop whinging when grey suited civil servants point out the at the Alex the emperor has no clothes.

Cheers
12

oddoneout,

09/04/2008 16:39:41
trying to read around the headline here, to me, it states that there would need to be provision within the act to make it legal. Has anyone asked what would need to be done? No. Has someone picked another fight for the sake of it? Yes. I seem to be missing the point here, instead of trying to find solutions to problems, our glorious leaders seem to be finding problems for solutions. Currently Scotland is within the Union framework, cursing and spitting at it won't help....try asking someone for the key.....nicely
13

The Answer,

Glasgow 09/04/2008 17:47:03
Why dont you nats start the ball rolling and set up your own tax collection agency, after independence your going to need one..
14

,

09/04/2008 17:54:31
Comment Removed By Administrator
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15

Legacy,

NE 09/04/2008 18:03:24
Posturing Propaganda from a New Labour Westminster Government, bereft of ideas, now the puppet strings to Scotland are well and truly cut, nothing more or less.
Alex Salmond and the SNP are doing nicely thanks, in the few 'Months' they have been in POWER in Scotland.
Mugabe Brown, his Chequered Chancer, and his other Chancers better get used to it, Scotland's Party the SNP are now in charge in Scotland.
16

,

09/04/2008 18:12:10
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17

,

09/04/2008 18:12:12
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18

Joe,

Broomhouse 09/04/2008 18:17:48
THe UK government have just saved the SNP from certain
defeat in the next election. A local tax based on the needs of Glasgow was a shot-in-the foot.
19

Andrew Allan,

09/04/2008 18:40:02
Considering the fact the Scottish Government was already able to raise extra income tax over the UK levels, and this would of been set and collected centrally, why would local income tax be any different?
20

John Knox furr First Meenister,

High St, Embra 09/04/2008 18:58:12
#19 its cos the local income tax applies to more than the basic rate of tax; the act allowed for a variation of basic rate only. And for a maximum of 3p (Which I've bored on about before is way short of what is required)
21

,

09/04/2008 20:22:22
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22

Brian Hill,

Edinburgh 10/04/2008 10:51:33
Westminster brings SNP to heal. Westminster shows SNP and Scotland who's boss.

But even if Westminster wins this battle and there is no certainty about this, what price will they pay at the polls?

Does this not play directly into the hands of the SNP? Will voters not feel that Independence would be better than constant interference from Westminster?

Will Labour suffer in Scotland at the forthcoming European, General and Holyrood elections because of 'perceived' unwarranted Westminster interference?

Do bears bleep in the woods?

 

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