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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tories back Air Passenger Duty tax cut on long-haul flights | Tories back Air Passenger Duty tax cut on long-haul flights |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish Conservatives have called on the Scottish government to abolish Air Passenger Duty on long-haul flights. | The Scottish Conservatives have called on the Scottish government to abolish Air Passenger Duty on long-haul flights. |
| Holyrood will take control of the air fare tax from April 2018. | Holyrood will take control of the air fare tax from April 2018. |
| The Tories had previously opposed proposals to cut the levy, but argue their new plans could help Scotland "go global" in the wake of Brexit. | The Tories had previously opposed proposals to cut the levy, but argue their new plans could help Scotland "go global" in the wake of Brexit. |
| The Scottish government wants to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) by 50%, with a view to eventually scrapping it. | The Scottish government wants to cut Air Passenger Duty (APD) by 50%, with a view to eventually scrapping it. |
| The government said the Tory proposals were "a move in the right direction". | |
| The Tory manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood elections argued that "at a time of constrained fiscal conditions, we cannot yet afford further tax cuts", arguing that the proposed 50% cut in APD was not "the right choice" - although leader Ruth Davidson said the party was keen on "reform". | The Tory manifesto for the 2016 Holyrood elections argued that "at a time of constrained fiscal conditions, we cannot yet afford further tax cuts", arguing that the proposed 50% cut in APD was not "the right choice" - although leader Ruth Davidson said the party was keen on "reform". |
| Party finance spokesman Murdo Fraser - who spoke in favour of reducing the tax in 2015 - maintained that the SNP plan "does not deliver the best value for money", urging the government to back Tory proposals instead. | Party finance spokesman Murdo Fraser - who spoke in favour of reducing the tax in 2015 - maintained that the SNP plan "does not deliver the best value for money", urging the government to back Tory proposals instead. |
| They would see the duty abolished for all flights of more than 2,000 miles, alongside an immediate freeze on short-haul flights to the UK and Europe. | They would see the duty abolished for all flights of more than 2,000 miles, alongside an immediate freeze on short-haul flights to the UK and Europe. |
| The party hope this will prompt airlines to provide new direct flights from Scotland to global destinations such as America and China. | The party hope this will prompt airlines to provide new direct flights from Scotland to global destinations such as America and China. |
| Launching the policy at Edinburgh Airport, Mr Fraser said it was important for Scotland to "go global" in the build-up to the UK leaving the EU. | Launching the policy at Edinburgh Airport, Mr Fraser said it was important for Scotland to "go global" in the build-up to the UK leaving the EU. |
| 'Act as barrier' | 'Act as barrier' |
| He said: "Airlines will be incentivised to put on new direct long-haul flights from Scotland. That means instead of having to go via London or Amsterdam, families and businesses would be able to get on a plane in Edinburgh or Glasgow and fly direct to China or the USA, or other global destinations." | He said: "Airlines will be incentivised to put on new direct long-haul flights from Scotland. That means instead of having to go via London or Amsterdam, families and businesses would be able to get on a plane in Edinburgh or Glasgow and fly direct to China or the USA, or other global destinations." |
| "This is a win-win. It makes thing more convenient for travellers, it helps with our carbon footprint by reducing the number of connecting flights, and it will boost tourism and trade." | "This is a win-win. It makes thing more convenient for travellers, it helps with our carbon footprint by reducing the number of connecting flights, and it will boost tourism and trade." |
| He added: "The SNP has proposed a blanket 50% cut in APD for all flights leaving Scotland. While this plan has merit, our view is that it does not deliver the best value for money." | He added: "The SNP has proposed a blanket 50% cut in APD for all flights leaving Scotland. While this plan has merit, our view is that it does not deliver the best value for money." |
| Edinburgh Airport supported the proposals, with chief executive Gordon Dewar calling them "a positive step", although he called for a cut to taxes on shorter-haul flights too. | Edinburgh Airport supported the proposals, with chief executive Gordon Dewar calling them "a positive step", although he called for a cut to taxes on shorter-haul flights too. |
| The Scottish Greens have described cutting APD as a "bizarre priority", while Labour have said it would not make Scotland "greener or fairer". | The Scottish Greens have described cutting APD as a "bizarre priority", while Labour have said it would not make Scotland "greener or fairer". |
| Labour's transport spokesman Neil Bibby said the Tories looked "set to do a backroom deal with the SNP to give a tax cut that will disproportionately benefit the people at the top". | |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie meanwhile said the Tory "u-turn" showed the Tories were drifting to the right and had "broken their promise to oppose the SNP strongly". | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie meanwhile said the Tory "u-turn" showed the Tories were drifting to the right and had "broken their promise to oppose the SNP strongly". |
| A Scottish government spokeswoman said: ""This is a move in the right direction and we look forward to persuading Parliament as a whole on this. UK APD has been the most expensive tax of its kind in Europe and continues to act as a barrier to Scotland's ability to secure new direct international services and maintain existing ones. | |
| "Our plan to cut APD by 50% by the end of the parliament, and then abolish it when public finances permit, is a fundamental component to improving Scotland's international connectivity - which is particularly important in light of the economic uncertainty caused by the outcome of the EU referendum." | "Our plan to cut APD by 50% by the end of the parliament, and then abolish it when public finances permit, is a fundamental component to improving Scotland's international connectivity - which is particularly important in light of the economic uncertainty caused by the outcome of the EU referendum." |