SNP must match words with actions on progressive tax and budget
The SNP must match the commitments it made in Parliament today with actions, says Scottish Greens finance spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP.
Mr Greer’s comments followed SNP support for his motion calling on the Scottish Government to explore all avenues to fiscal sustainability, including further use of existing tax powers, reviewing tax reliefs and other subsidies for big business, new powers for councils such as a levy on polluting cruise ships and to ensure that spending does not go towards programmes which undermine the core missions of tackling child poverty and the climate emergency.
Speaking after the vote, Mr Greer said:
“The next Scottish budget must protect people and planet from Westminster’s cuts. That means raising money from the likes of supermarkets and private jet users and using it to protect the public services we all rely on.
“I welcome the SNP’s support for my motion, but they must now match words with actions. If this is a budget which makes Scotland a fairer and greener place, it will have the Scottish Greens support. We are far from that point though. We are still hugely concerned by the SNP’s recent decisions to reinstate the peak rail fares, previously suspended by the Greens, to cut funding for nature projects and to drop the commitment to expand free school meals for all P6 and P7 pupils.
“The Scottish Government does not have all the powers it needs, but it is far from powerless. This is a question of priorities. Will the SNP continue to give handouts to big businesses and elite landowners, or will they use that money to lift children out of poverty? Will they pour billions of pounds into polluting road building projects, or redirect it into helping people to insulate their homes and improve our railways?
“If the government is prepared to work constructively with us, the Scottish Greens are prepared to negotiate in good faith to deliver a budget which builds the fairer, greener Scotland we know is still possible.”