It’s the time of year when many people are dutifully filling out their tax returns before tomorrow’s HMRC deadline.
It seems appropriate given the latest political scandal to engulf the Conservative Party.
Nadhim Zahawi was yesterday sacked as Tory Party chair after an inquiry by the Prime Minister’s ethics adviser found he had failed to disclose that HMRC was investigating his tax affairs.
Rishi Sunak was forced to launch the investigation after reports Zahawi had paid HMRC a penalty over previously unpaid tax.
What makes the case more unpalatable is that last year Zahawi was serving as chancellor of the exchequer – in charge of the nation’s finances.
The Tory MP’s self-entitlement was on full display in his letter to Sunak accepting his sacking.
He made digs at the news media but did not offer an apology or mention his tax affairs.
Zahawi has previously described stories about his tax affairs as “smears”.
If it wasn’t for media reporting, no one would know of Zahawi’s issues with the taxman.
This story has dogged the Tories for weeks but it was only yesterday morning that Sunak finally accepted reality and fired the party chair.
The Conservatives have, time and time again, chosen to protect their own rather than uphold integrity in public life.
Zahawi’s sacking should not have taken this long.
And it has shown Sunak as weak and ineffectual.
The latest Tory Prime Minister is failing to be the new broom he promised last year.
Stuck in the past
The council tax system is so old it was introduced before several serving MSPs were born.
It was thought up by John Major’s government as a replacement for the hated poll tax in the early 90s.
It was a stop-gap solution to help fund local councils but it’s now long past its sell-by date.
The SNP pledged to replace the council tax before the party won its first Holyrood election in 2007.
But, 15 years on, a credible alternative has still to emerge.
Cross-party talks on the issue took place before the first coronavirus lockdown but progress remains slow.
Greens MSP Ross Greer is hopeful a replacement for council tax could be thrashed out in time for the next
Scottish elections in 2026.
But previous experience suggests the issue could easily be kicked back into
the long grass.
Scots deserve a fairer local tax system and not a relic of the 90s.
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