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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brown accused of Budget 'tax con' | Brown accused of Budget 'tax con' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Opposition parties have described Budget plans to cut the basic income tax rate by 2p as a "con". | Opposition parties have described Budget plans to cut the basic income tax rate by 2p as a "con". |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond said Chancellor Gordon Brown's scrapping of the 10p rate and changes to National Insurance meant it was actually a tax rise. | |
| Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell said there would be a disproportionate burden on those worse off. | Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell said there would be a disproportionate burden on those worse off. |
| Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the Budget would bring benefits to businesses, pensioners and families. | |
| Mr Salmond said: "This is a tax cut con. He's abolishing the 10p rate but National Insurance is changing and indirect taxes are increasing. | |
| "If you add all that together it is a tax rise. | |
| Gordon Brown has missed yet another opportunity to secure a plan for the long-term future of Scotland. David MundellShadow Scottish Secretary | |
| "This budget is another desperate move from a desperate chancellor determined to try anything to hold onto power in Scotland." | |
| Mr Mundell said: "Brown's Budget will not bail out Labour in Scotland in the upcoming election campaign - balancing the books by giving with one hand and taking with the other will not fool anyone. | |
| Your reaction to the BudgetIn pictures | |
| "Gordon Brown has missed yet another opportunity to secure a plan for the long-term future of Scotland." | |
| Mr Douglas said: "Today's Budget provides more support to pensioners with the decrease in basic tax and the abolition of the 10p rate of tax, taking more than 50,000 Scottish pensioners out of the tax system. | |
| "Our economy is strong and there are more people in employment than ever before; prosperity and opportunity has increased for all. Today's Budget is investing to safeguard Scotland's future." | |
| Business groups said the Budget would benefit some firms but would leave others worse off. | |
| Niall Stewart, from the Federation of Small Businesses Scotland, described it as a "typical Gordon Brown Budget". | |
| "Most of our members will be scratching their heads and asking what effect this has had on them," he said. | "Most of our members will be scratching their heads and asking what effect this has had on them," he said. |
| With the threat of climate chaos growing daily now is the time for bold leadership, not half measures. Duncan McLarenFriends of the Earth Scotland | |
| He pointed out that in Scotland two thirds of all businesses were run by self-employed individuals who would benefit from the 2p cut in income tax but would not be affected by the cut in corporation tax. | |
| Mr Stewart added that the Budget would also be a disappointment for small limited companies and would mean less income for them to invest in their firms. | |
| Friends of the Earth Scotland welcomed green measures such as increased tax on higher polluting vehicles but said they were still insufficient to deal with today's environmental challenges. | |
| Its chief executive, Duncan McLaren, said: "The chancellor should have done more to make it easier and cheaper for Scots to live climate-friendly lives. | |
| "Today's Budget contains some welcome steps toward a greener economy, but falls short of the measures required to really tackle climate change. | |
| "With the threat of climate chaos growing daily, now is the time for bold leadership, not half measures." |