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More Scots firms 'oppose NI rise' Tory Osborne confirms NI increase
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservatives have said that more than 100 Scottish businesses have now signed up to oppose Labour's planned increase in National Insurance. Treasury spokesman George Osborne confirmed Tory plans to increase National Insurance while on a visit to a key Scottish constituency.
The party's Treasury spokesman, George Osborne, revealed the figure on a visit to a key Tory target seat. But he insisted his party's proposals would be less harmful than Labour's.
He was at Bradfords Bakery in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, where Tory candidate Richard Cook, hopes to take the seat from Labour's Jim Murphy. Mr Osborne was at Bradfords Bakery in Thornliebank, East Renfrewshire, where Tory candidate Richard Cook, hopes to take the seat from Labour's Jim Murphy.
Voters will go to the polls on Thursday, 6 May. He said more than 100 Scottish businesses had signed up to oppose Labour's 1% rise in National Insurance.
Mr Osborne explained: "We're going to avoid the really damaging part of Labour's national insurance rise - the bit that affects most Scottish families and Scottish businesses.
Seven out of 10 families in Scotland will be better off under a Conservative government George OsborneTory Treasury spokesman
"We can't avoid the whole national insurance rise, so people who are earning pretty high salaries - £44,000 or £45,000 - are still going to pay it, but they're not going to pay as much as Labour".
Under Labour plans, NI contributions for both employees and employers would increase by 1% from April 2011.Under Labour plans, NI contributions for both employees and employers would increase by 1% from April 2011.
The Tories have said that they would scrap the rise for employees earning up to £35,000.The Tories have said that they would scrap the rise for employees earning up to £35,000.
Seven out of 10 families in Scotland will be better off under a Conservative government George OsborneTory Treasury spokesman
Employers would also see no rise for staff earning £20,800 or less.Employers would also see no rise for staff earning £20,800 or less.
Mr Osborne conceded that the Tories would increase National Insurance but it was going to "avoid the really damaging part" of Labour's planned rise. Mr Osborne said: "Seven out of 10 families in Scotland will be better off under a Conservative government.
He added: "We can't avoid the whole NI rise so people who are earning pretty high salaries have still got to pay it - people earning over £44,000/£45,000 have got to pay it, but people earning under that will not pay as much as under Labour.
"Seven out of 10 families in Scotland will be better off under a Conservative government.
"More to the point, we are going to keep jobs, create jobs instead of killing jobs which is what Gordon Brown's tax involves.""More to the point, we are going to keep jobs, create jobs instead of killing jobs which is what Gordon Brown's tax involves."
The Conservative Party believes the backing they have had from 100 Scottish businesses is proof that throughout the UK there is strong opposition to the Labour proposal. The Conservative Party believes the backing they have had from more than 100 Scottish businesses is proof that throughout the UK there is strong opposition to the Labour proposal.
Mr Osborne said during his bakery visit: "Labour's jobs tax is going to kill the recovery and here in this bakery they say that the National Insurance rise will mean people working shorter hours which means less take-home pay for Scottish families."Mr Osborne said during his bakery visit: "Labour's jobs tax is going to kill the recovery and here in this bakery they say that the National Insurance rise will mean people working shorter hours which means less take-home pay for Scottish families."