Axe council tax and focus on wealth 352

A senior SNP MSP has called for council tax to be axed and replaced with a 'progressive' property charge. Former business minister Ivan McKee believes that overhauling the local authority finance system would be a better way of raising much-needed money than hiking income tax again

- IVAN MCKEE

NEXT week is Budget CE week. Always a fraught time for those making sure the numbers add up and for those who wait to learn how it will impact household finances or essential services.

Recent years have seen a growing gap between income tax rates in Scotland and those south of the border.

Most people accept higher taxes if they can see what they get for the money. And almost everyone agrees that those with the deepest pockets should pay the most.

The problem comes when you expect voters to pay first class for services that don't match.

And the problem with continually increasing the income tax gap is eventually you get to the point where further increases bring in less and less money. Increasing the additional rate to 47p recently raised a paltry £3m.