Scottish Budget

[RyeSloan]

I see the Scotsman is leading with a none too subtle attack on the SNP today on some of the detail of their budget..SCOTSMAN (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Swinney-sets-up-850m-business.6841110.jp?articlepage=3)

While I am no fan of the SNP and in particular their cunning ability to spin anything good as down to them and anything bad as down to the Union I'm not quite getting this attack....aside from the Tesco Tax (which at £100m is more of a token effort in the face of a £28bn budget) this would appear to be more of a removal of tax breaks for unused or under untilised buildings than a direct tax rise on business. I would have thought that this may prove to be an incentive for business to use their assets effectively or sell them on?

I also watched newsnight a couple of evenings ago and there was 3 members of the opposition on talking about the budget...geez if that's the 'opposition' then it's little wonder the SNP have total control...despite Swinney having to impose across the board cuts they had absolutely nothing in terms of either purely political attacks (as the SNP would have had for sure) or even constuctive critisism. The lack of an alternative voice in Scottish politics is really quite depressing.

[Dashing Bob S]

I see the Scotsman is leading with a none too subtle attack on the SNP today on some of the detail of their budget..SCOTSMAN (http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Swinney-sets-up-850m-business.6841110.jp?articlepage=3)

While I am no fan of the SNP and in particular their cunning ability to spin anything good as down to them and anything bad as down to the Union I'm not quite getting this attack....aside from the Tesco Tax (which at £100m is more of a token effort in the face of a £28bn budget) this would appear to be more of a removal of tax breaks for unused or under untilised buildings than a direct tax rise on business. I would have thought that this may prove to be an incentive for business to use their assets effectively or sell them on?

I also watched newsnight a couple of evenings ago and there was 3 members of the opposition on talking about the budget...geez if that's the 'opposition' then it's little wonder the SNP have total control...despite Swinney having to impose across the board cuts they had absolutely nothing in terms of either purely political attacks (as the SNP would have had for sure) or even constuctive critisism. The lack of an alternative voice in Scottish politics is really quite depressing.

The Scotsman attacking anybody on budgeting and finances is only ever going to make them look good. This moribund vanity project of a rag loses money hand over fist each week, and is only bailed out by the Evening News and the dwindling band of over forties who still see that as their best way to learn about the Hibs, hearts, the telly and their star signs.

[Dashing Bob S]

Sorry, forgot to say that I agree with your main point.

I don't think it's good for Scottish politics that the other parties outside the SNP are so utterly useless.

[One Day Soon]

It doesn't matter what the reasons for the tax rise are, it adds up to a nearly £500 million tax rise on business - only £40 million of which is due to the tax on those selling alcohol and cigarettes. The rest in other words is a straightforward tax grabbing exercise. Now for a government which claims to be pro-enterprise this seems a completely contrary policy to be implementing.

In fact since Alex Salmond is so keen to have control of Corportation Tax so that he can (he claims) cut it in order to give Scottish business a competitive advantage, how does raking in an extra £500 million from business stack up?

If he really wants to give Scottish business a competitive advantage by cutting the Corporation Tax he doesn't currently control, why doesn't he just achieve the same effect with a tax he does control? If he was serious he could just cut or abolish Non Domestic Rates right now thereby giving Scottish business exactly the competitive advantage he claims to want and encouraging inward investment.

Could it be because it is all just spin?

[Hainan Hibs]

Salmond and co are playing a tune and every unionist and their dog is dancing to it. Loving it :applause::greengrin

[One Day Soon]

Salmond and co are playing a tune and every unionist and their dog is dancing to it. Loving it :applause::greengrin

That's nice for you. Care to answer my question?

[RyeSloan]

It doesn't matter what the reasons for the tax rise are, it adds up to a nearly £500 million tax rise on business - only £40 million of which is due to the tax on those selling alcohol and cigarettes. The rest in other words is a straightforward tax grabbing exercise. Now for a government which claims to be pro-enterprise this seems a completely contrary policy to be implementing.

In fact since Alex Salmond is so keen to have control of Corportation Tax so that he can (he claims) cut it in order to give Scottish business a competitive advantage, how does raking in an extra £500 million from business stack up?

If he really wants to give Scottish business a competitive advantage by cutting the Corporation Tax he doesn't currently control, why doesn't he just achieve the same effect with a tax he does control? If he was serious he could just cut or abolish Non Domestic Rates right now thereby giving Scottish business exactly the competitive advantage he claims to want and encouraging inward investment.

Could it be because it is all just spin?

I get your point it does seme a bit at odds with the SNP's supposed 'competative advantage' line but like you I'm not overly surprised, the SNP at masters at saying one thing and actually doing quite another.

On the detail of the 'tax grab' though I think the figures are a bit nonsense, that of course is due to the rather optimistic forecasts of the increased revenue to be received.

To be honest I don't think it's a terrible policy in terms of promoting the use of empty building and unused assets (although I'm not sure this was the motivation!) and there is clearly a need to raise taxable income to meet expenditure promises but I suppose that's probably your point, it's not clear that is what the SNP are doing...as I said it's a shame there is no clear opposition voice to put these points across in a politically powerful way, the SNP must think they can say and do anything they want just now without any fear of their opponents being able to counter any of it.