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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Chris McCall

Douglas Ross branded 'flip flop' after Scottish Conservatives leader backs U-turn on tax cuts

Douglas Ross was branded a "flip-flop" today after he ditched his previous support for Tory plans to slash the top rate of income tax for millionaires.

The Scottish Conservatives leader had repeatedly backed Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget despite a furious backlash from international markets and opposition parties.

Ross also called for Nicola Sturgeon to copy the UK Government tax cuts and pass them on to high earners in Scotland - claiming it would "turbo-charge our economy".

Kwarteng was forced to announce the humiliating U-turn this morning just hours before he was due to give a speech at the Tory party conference in Birmingham.

And Ross later claimed it was "the right thing to do".

Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative conference, he claimed politicians "have to listen and respond and that is exactly what the Chancellor has done".

Ross said: "This morning we know that the Chancellor has confirmed a change to the budget that was presented 10 days ago.

"I think he’s made the right decision – the best parts of the Government’s growth plan going forward remain and the area that caused most concern has gone. Politicians have to listen and respond and that is exactly what the Chancellor has done."

Jackie Baille, Scottish Labour deputy leader, said: "It is welcome news that flip-flop Douglas Ross has finally admitted that the Tories' economic plan is a disaster for people across the UK.

"It’s just a shame he told so many people the opposite first.

"Surely he can see what Adam Tompkins and Nick Boles already have - it’s not a single policy that’s the problem, it’s the entire party.

"Scotland needs a change in government at Westminster that will put working people first."

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