The SNP has issued a challenge to the Scottish Tories over the Chancellor’s tax grab on pensioners urging the party to speak out for pensioners in Scotland who have been hit by the raid to fund a tax-cut for millionaires.
In his Budget speech Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced a surprise move to freeze the personal tax allowances of people over the age of 65 while simultaneously cutting the top rate of tax for the highest paid earners. The move was strongly criticised by opposition politicians and organisations representing the elderly.
Commenting on the Chancellor’s tax grab, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP said:
“Just as Labour was forced to apologise over the 10p tax fiasco, the Tories must now say sorry and abandon their plans for this unfair tax hit on older people.
“There are more pensioners in Scotland affected by this pensioners poll tax than voters who supported the Tories at the last election.
“The Chancellor’s proposals will hit people with modest pensions and savings for their retirement and it is disgraceful that they are being targeted by the Treasury while millionaires and the richest earners like the Prime Minister are set to benefit from a tax cut. The Tories have their priorities all wrong.
“Last week’s Budget truly fails the fairness test when pensioners are penalised while millionaires get a tax cut from the Tories.
“The Chancellor should admit he got it wrong and reverse this unfair tax raid.”