Since the referendum the SNP Government has branded itself as being anti-austerity. However, they have been happy to simultaneously pass on austerity driven cuts to our public services. Scottish Labour have now shown that there is a progressive alternative. We can choose to ask those individuals who earn more than £20,000 per annum to pay a wee bit more tax and use that money to invest in education and social care in Scotland.
Kezia Dugdale’s progressive and bold plan to raise the income tax rate by 1p to fund essential public services is a test for the SNP. They can choose to ignore it and commit to thousands of job losses, or they can back Kezia’s plan to protect the services the vulnerable need. It is up to them, they have a parliamentary majority.
The policy is also a test for former Labour voters who now back the SNP. These are not the intransigents that want independence at any cost, but people who simply want Scotland to be a fairer country to work, live and bring up children. I find it hard to believe that this latter group will choose to back SNP cuts to schools when there is a fair and progressive alternative.
After all the coming Holyrood budget vote and May’s Scottish Parliament election will not be about independence, but about improving Scotland. I would urge SNP supporters, from ordinary Scots to the MSP elite, to look at what Scottish Labour is offering and support what is best for Scotland.
Dr Scott Arthur 
Watched the debate in parliament today but not a single Labour speaker could give any detail on the £100 “rebate”. Is it a tax rebate? A benefit? Is it taxable? Will it affect benefits? How will it be claimed? How will it be administered? Is it even legal? In the end the debate degenerated into hysterical ranting from Labour MSPs as they tried to disrupt proceedings. No wonder they’re unelectable in Scotland. Some answers, Scott?
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The “rebate” is taxable, but as it was greater than the tax paid people would have been better off.
Your boss, Gordon Macdonald MSP, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tories today:
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So no detail just your usual shallow slurs. When is Labour going to answer the questions or was the fag packet not big enough for details?
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It’s been fully checked – councils said it was workable. Shame your boss voted with the Tories for cuts. Stronger for Scotland?
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Even your MSPs today didn’t say it had been checked. I see your MPs abstained on no detriment at Westminster tonight. You really are a feeble, pathetic shower.
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Edinburgh’s SNP/Labour council said the rebate would work.
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