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Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson makes low taxes for Scotland call Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson makes low taxes for Scotland call
(about 4 hours later)
Scotland should keep taxes low and lift the ban on GM crops and fracking, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives has said. Scotland should keep taxes low and lift the ban on GM crops and fracking, the leader of the Scottish Tories has said.
Ruth Davidson also criticised Labour's "self-defeating" plan to levy a 50p top rate of tax.Ruth Davidson also criticised Labour's "self-defeating" plan to levy a 50p top rate of tax.
She made her speech at the Adam Smith Institute at Westminster.
Labour's Ian Murray said Ms Davidson should stop talking of tax cuts for the rich and explain her government's "punitive cuts" on the poor.Labour's Ian Murray said Ms Davidson should stop talking of tax cuts for the rich and explain her government's "punitive cuts" on the poor.
The Scottish government also hit back, saying "Scotland was very much open for business".
Ms Davidson believed the Scottish government should pledge never to raise taxes higher than the rest of the United Kingdom to prevent Scotland's top-rate taxpayers leaving to work in England.Ms Davidson believed the Scottish government should pledge never to raise taxes higher than the rest of the United Kingdom to prevent Scotland's top-rate taxpayers leaving to work in England.
In her speech, the MSP said Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's plan to levy a 50p top rate of tax on people with salaries of more than £150,000 is "utterly naive and self-defeating". In a speech at the Adam Smith Institute at Westminster, the MSP said Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's plan to levy a 50p top rate of tax on people with salaries of more than £150,000 is "utterly naive and self-defeating".
Scotland has about 14,000 top-rate taxpayers, roughly 5% of the UK total and below its population share.Scotland has about 14,000 top-rate taxpayers, roughly 5% of the UK total and below its population share.
Ms Davidson wants to attract another 10,000 high earners to live in Scotland.Ms Davidson wants to attract another 10,000 high earners to live in Scotland.
She said: "I want to see us in Scotland rolling out the red carpet to our neighbours across the United Kingdom."She said: "I want to see us in Scotland rolling out the red carpet to our neighbours across the United Kingdom."
Ms Davidson added that the SNP was too interested in trying to drive a wedge "between us and the rest of the UK".Ms Davidson added that the SNP was too interested in trying to drive a wedge "between us and the rest of the UK".
She will explained: "Two weeks ago, the SNP made the entirely populist decision to ban GM crop development in Scotland.She will explained: "Two weeks ago, the SNP made the entirely populist decision to ban GM crop development in Scotland.
"Will a well-paid scientist or bio-tech expert bring her family to Scotland now? I doubt it."Will a well-paid scientist or bio-tech expert bring her family to Scotland now? I doubt it.
"Over the summer, the SNP - egged on by Labour - set out an equally populist ban on fracking technology. Will that encourage engineers to come and find opportunities in Scotland? I fear not."Over the summer, the SNP - egged on by Labour - set out an equally populist ban on fracking technology. Will that encourage engineers to come and find opportunities in Scotland? I fear not.
"I know from speaking to business leaders at home that there are real worries that we are missing out of this great British revival.""I know from speaking to business leaders at home that there are real worries that we are missing out of this great British revival."
'Punitive cuts''Punitive cuts'
Ms Davidson's speech added: "Scottish Labour's new leader Kezia Dugdale was barely in the job a week before stating her desire to raise taxes on middle to high earners.Ms Davidson's speech added: "Scottish Labour's new leader Kezia Dugdale was barely in the job a week before stating her desire to raise taxes on middle to high earners.
"This, of course, will receive the warmest welcome from George Osborne as its most immediate impact will be to encourage Scotland's top-rate taxpayers to leave Scotland for south of the border."This, of course, will receive the warmest welcome from George Osborne as its most immediate impact will be to encourage Scotland's top-rate taxpayers to leave Scotland for south of the border.
"It is Labour at its most typical: borne of legitimate intentions, but utterly naive and self-defeating.""It is Labour at its most typical: borne of legitimate intentions, but utterly naive and self-defeating."
However, Labour Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, said: "Instead of defending her party's record of tax cuts for the most well off, Ruth Davidson should be answering for the effect of her party's policies.However, Labour Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray, said: "Instead of defending her party's record of tax cuts for the most well off, Ruth Davidson should be answering for the effect of her party's policies.
"Just yesterday, Iain Duncan Smith announced another round of punitive cuts that would mean people who are too sick to work would have to find a job or lose their benefits."Just yesterday, Iain Duncan Smith announced another round of punitive cuts that would mean people who are too sick to work would have to find a job or lose their benefits.
"The Scottish Tories - and Ruth Davidson - cannot go on trying to fool people that they are the compassionate wing of Cameron's Conservatives. They are equally responsible.""The Scottish Tories - and Ruth Davidson - cannot go on trying to fool people that they are the compassionate wing of Cameron's Conservatives. They are equally responsible."
'Boost investment'
Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the country's population had risen to an" all-time high".
He added: "Scotland is the most successful part of the UK outside London for attracting inward investment, while we already have the most competitive business tax environment anywhere in the UK, with almost 100,000 properties paying zero or reduced business rates.
"But we want to go further, and our economic strategy is helping boost investment, innovation, internationalisation and exports.
"It is the UK Government's failed austerity programme that is damaging economic confidence and threatening public services."