Scottish budget: 'You have broken your promise!' SNP shredded for tax HIKES
THE SNP Finance Secretary was severely criticised in Holyrood after he hiked taxes in Scotland in the Budget.
Murdo Fraser slams SNP: You've broken your promise
The SNP Finance Secretary Derek Mackay introduced a new income tax band of 21 per cent for those earning between £24,000 and £44,273.
A new Starter Rate of 19 per cent will also be introduced for those earning between £11,850 and £13,850.
As a result of the starter rate, no one earning more than £33,000 will pay more tax according to Mr Mackay.
Both two top rates of tax have also been increased by one per cent, to 41 per cent on incomes over £44,273 to £150,000 and to 46 per cent on incomes over £150,000.
After the announcement, Mr Mackay said that for the “majority of taxpayers this is the lowest taxed part of the UK”.
The Conservatives were quick to accuse the SNP of breaking their promises after the increase in tax.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser: “There is one thing that is absolutely clear from the Scottish Government’s Budget today.
“You cannot trust a word that this First Minister or this Scottish Government say.
Ruth Davidson rips into Sturgeon during FMQs tax row
You cannot trust a word that this First Minister or this Scottish Government say
“In the SNP manifesto last year the wording was perfectly clear. They promised to freeze the basic rate of income tax throughout the Parliament to protect those on low and middle incomes.
“Today the SNP and every member of this Government has broken their promise to the Scottish people.
“Despite pledging not to increase taxes for those on the basic rate. And despite 65 per cent of the population in May last year voting to endorse that position, today they are proposing to do the opposite and increase taxes for those on the basic rate.
“No one will believe a word they say ever again.”
In the Budget, Mr Mackay set out a programme that he would increase spending on the Health Service, education and lift the one per cent public sector cap for NHS staff, police, teachers and others earning up to £30,000.
In First Minister’s Questions earlier on Thursday, the Scottish Conservative leader criticised Ms Sturgeon for not delivering on her promises.
She said: “It was only in May of this year that the First Minister made absolutely clear, it is not right she said for any person on the basic rate to pay more.
“That is 2.2million people in this country that would be protected and she has just stood up and said that some of them are going to take a hit.
“This is a simple matter of trust, promises were made, she has failed to meet them, so how can Scottish workers ever trust her again?”
The Conservative MSPs in Holyrood erupted and banged on their tables to support the remark, as Nicola Sturgeon said the Tory leader was speaking “nonsense”.
Ms Sturgeon replied: “I suggest that Ruth Davidson listens carefully to the budget this afternoon.
“Because when Derek Mackay stands up here and outlines his Budget proposals then, much of what Ruth Davison has been saying over the past week will be seen to be complete and utter nonsense.
“We will set out fair, balanced and progressive Budget proposals that protect our public services from more than £200m in real terms of cuts imposed by the Tories.
“That is a fact that the Tories don’t like hearing. So let me repeat it. Our spending is being cut by more than £200m in real terms next year.
“The proposals we put forward this afternoon will set out how we protect our NHS, our education and other vital public services from that.”