Moray MP Douglas Ross has condemned the Scottish Government for harming the Moray economy after recently published figures revealed the cost to Moray businesses of the SNP’s decision to double business rates in 2016.
Douglas said: “The SNP Scottish Government has delivered an extra multi-million tax bill to Moray’s medium and large firms over the last three years. Latest figures indicate that it adds up to over £2.5m.
“These are costs that other firms in the United Kingdom do not have to bear. We know for a fact that local businesses are being deterred from investing and jobs are being lost as Scotland gains the unfortunate reputation of being the highest taxed part of the UK.
“The estimate for 2018-19 alone is that the businesses affected in Moray will be paying nearly £1m more than equivalent businesses south of the border. Nicola Sturgeon and her ministers need to wake up to the fact that their reckless approach to the public finances is putting jobs and services at risk.
“If we lose out on investment we will ultimately shrink the tax base which pays for the local services that people in Moray rely on.”
Scottish Conservative shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart MSP commented: “The Scottish economy continues to suffer under this SNP government.
“The SNP has now made Scotland the highest-taxed part of the UK for income tax and the highest-taxed part of the UK to run a business.
“The SNP has increasingly asked Scottish businesses to pay more and now they are considering an out-of-town levy that will add more cost and more complexity to business taxes.
“It is no wonder that our high streets are struggling and business numbers are falling dramatically across Scotland.
“The SNP must focus on improving the Scottish economy, not imposing unsustainable taxes on Scottish businesses.”