Tories to outline proposals on cutting taxes and shrinking state

The Scottish Conservatives will outline their proposals to reduce the size of the state and cut taxes during a financial debate in Holyrood this week.

Russell Findlay’s party have proposed to cut the size of the Scottish Government’s core workforce down to 2016 levels, which would mean a reduction of almost 4,000 civil servants.

They say this and other cost-saving measures could pay for a tax cut worth up to £444 for Scots.

During his party conference at the weekend, Mr Findlay said the Tories could save £650 million by “cutting red tape, getting a grip on spending, and harnessing business expertise”.

The SNP has said it is working to reform the public sector and most taxpayers in Scotland pay less income tax than in other parts of the UK.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Parliament will debate financial issues.

Ahead of the debate, Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: “Under the SNP, hard-working Scots are paying the highest taxes in the UK but are getting less and less in return.

“Over their 18 years in power, the civil service has ballooned in size to record levels and more and more taxpayers’ money is getting used for state spending, rather than on frontline services.”

He added: “Our debate this week will call for this culture to come to an end, and for Scots to finally get a better deal.

“Our proposals would deliver a tax cut worth hundreds of pounds a year to hard-pressed taxpayers, while shrinking the size of the SNP’s bloated and creaking state.”

Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “Scotland’s tax policies are grounded in evidence and carefully balance the need to raise revenue with the impacts on taxpayers and the economy.

“More than half of Scottish income taxpayers also continue to pay less than they would elsewhere in the UK while benefitting from policies such as free prescriptions and free tuition that are only available in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government has balanced its books every year and the Scottish economy continues to be one of the best performing in the UK, with latest forecasts showing earnings and tax growing faster than the rest of the UK.

“There is already significant ongoing work to drive efficiency in government and across the wider public sector, which has secured significant cost avoiding and cash relating savings of £280 million for the last two years.”