High cost
The announcements by Humza Yousaf over a £417 million U-turn on council tax, a £300m increase in the NHS budget and £500m extra cash for the renewable sector only adds to the existing £1 billion black hole in the SNP’s 2024/2025 budget. If the Finance Secretary plans to make the half million higher and top rate taxpayers cover the total debt then that will be an annual tax increase of around £4,000 a year to those in these tax bands. Not a good policy, impacting on junior doctors, police officers and teachers during a cost-of living crisis. It will be an even harsher policy if introduced just prior to a Westminster election and will be used by all opposition parties prior to the May 2026 election.
Add on the impact of higher energy costs over the winter and the SNP face major financial difficulties in the preparation of their 2024/2025 budget.
Ian Moir, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway
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