Rachel Reeves accuses SNP of 'whacking up taxes on working people' instead of energy giants

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Rachel Reeves has accused the SNP of "whacking up taxes on working people" instead of supporting a windfall tax on profits earned by big energy companies.The Shadow Chancellor used a visit to a Chivas Brothers bottling plant in Dumbarton to pledge Labour will back Scottish businesses "big and small" if the party wins power at next week's general election.And the senior Labour MP hit out at the Scottish Government's decision to hike income taxes at a time many people are struggling with the cost of living.Reeves and Keir Starmer have repeatedly promised not to raise National Insurance, VAT or income taxes if they enter Downing Street.Personal income tax rates in Scotland are devolved and set by SNP ministers - with workers currently earning £29,000 or above paying more than they would elsewhere in the UK.Further changes to personal taxation in Scotland also saw the creation of a new tax band of 45p for those on salaries of between £75,000 and £125,140.Reeves told the Record there was "huge potential" in the Scottish economy but said growth was lagging and was not being "properly tapped".She said: "We're here at Chivas to say a Labour government are going to back Scottish businesses, big and small. "Since 2020, there are 6,000 fewer businesses, and 44,000 fewer people in work.

And yet we see the huge potential in the Scottish economy. If you look at the growth numbers, that is not being properly tapped."SNP ministers regularly argue they are constrained by a lack of fiscal powers available to the Scottish Government, but this argument was dismissed by Reeves.She continued: "They have quite a lot of fiscal powers, and what do they use them for?