Progressive taxation is a force for good, Scotland must go further
Progressive taxation is a force for good, says Scottish Green MSP Maggie Chapman MSP, who has called for Scotland to go further and do more to use tax powers to redistribute wealth and protect people and families from grinding poverty.
Ms Chapman’s call comes ahead of a Scottish Government budget that builds on tax changes that have been secured by the Scottish Greens with fairer taxes for the most wealthy to fund services we all rely on.
Ms Chapman has also called for other parties proposing tax cuts to explain what services they would cut to fund it.
Speaking at First Minister’s Questions today, Ms Chapman said: “We all have too many constituents struggling with grinding poverty for whom public services are a lifeline. I am proud that tax changes which Scottish Greens have championed mean that £1.5 billion more is available for those services. Tax changes which mean the better-off pay more and the people on lower incomes pay less.
“Those promising tax cuts must be honest about what services they’d cut.
“The STUC has argued, and the First Minister has recognised, that Scotland can and should do more to use tax powers to redistribute wealth and make the case that taxation is a public good. Can I ask the FM how he plans to build that consensus for progressive taxation as a force for good?”
