DOUBT has been cast on Anas Sarwar’s claims that a Scottish Labour administration in Holyrood would seek to cut taxes – as he was accused of a “desperate” bid to turn around his party's plunging popularity ratings.
The Scottish Labour leader earlier this week predicted he would become the next first minister – saying pollsters who were predicting a historically poor result for his party would have “egg on their face”.
And he claimed that the “discrepancy” where Scots earning more than £45,000 paid a 50% marginal tax rate compared with 28% for their English counterparts must be “corrected”.
He added: “I would love to cut income tax, particularly for those on the lowest incomes.”
However, the claim came amid a flurry of spending commitments, including pledges to scrap peak rail fares for nationalised ScotRail services and renegotiate GP contracts to end the “8am rush” for appointments.
SNP MSP Michelle Thomson (above) told The National the Scottish Labour leader’s tax cut promise “simply isn't credible”.
She said: “Anas Sarwar is clearly becoming more desperate by the day and is willing to say anything in an effort to turn around Labour's plummeting poll ratings.
“But making additional spending commitments while pledging to cut taxes simply isn't credible policy from a man who is increasingly not credible as Labour leader.
“Whether on Grangemouth, Waspi women or winter fuel payments, the one thing that we know about Anas Sarwar's promises is they will be broken – and claiming that he will increase spending while decreasing revenue is a promise absolutely nobody will believe.”
Scottish Labour's finance spokesperson Michael Marra said: “This out-of-touch SNP government continues to insist working people should pay the price for its financial failure.
“It takes a brass neck for anyone in the SNP to talk about credible policymaking after the mess this party has made of public finances and public services.
“Scottish Labour would turn the page on SNP failure and deliver for Scots – from ending the 8am rush for GP appointments to scrapping peak fares to delivering a fair tax system.”
