Highlands and Islands MSP slams Tory tax plans

Highlands and Islands MSP, Maree Todd has criticised Conservative tax proposals which she believes could lead to a £2.4 million drop in public spending for Orkney.

Referring to new analysis undertaken by the Scottish Government, Ms Todd has voiced her concerns about proposed tax cuts for high earners, which she claims would leave a £500 million hole in the budget. The Scottish Parliament is set to vote on Stage 1 of the budget this month, and the SNP politician fears that the NHS will be in the firing line for spending cuts, should conservative proposals go through.

“The Tory tax plans would blow a whopping £500 million hole in our budget – and Orkney could lose up to 2.4 million,” she said.

“That’s on top of the economic turbulence created by Brexit uncertainty and a decade of UK government austerity.”

Ms Todd believes that these proposals would be devastating to valuable public services in Orkney, including the NHS, claiming that it would be equivalent to cutting 57 nurses in the region.

“Under the SNP, the NHS has record staffing and record funding – and the draft budget would see that funding increased,” she continued.

“But this investment is only possible because of the decisions taken by the Scottish Government, with progressive policies seeing higher earnings paying slightly more to support public services.

“It’s high the time for the Tories to explain why they’d prefer to give a handout to millionaires than to fund our hospitals.”