Last week John Swinney, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, put before the Scottish Parliament the Government’s proposed Budget for the winter ahead: The Scottish Budget

Opposition parties can now propose changes to the Budget based on their priorities.

The Tories in Scotland have accused the SNP/Green Government’s plans to raise taxes for higher earners as increasing the gap between Scotland and rUK.

“John Swinney’s tax hikes will widen the income tax gap between Scotland and the rest of the UK – driving away talent and jobs, while hitting 500,000 middle-earning Scots in the pocket. The SNP’s Budget will stifle our economic growth.”

Scottish Conservatives on Twitter

The SNP has estimated that under Tory plans for income tax, health and social services would be hit by devastating cuts. NHS Orkney losing £4.1million of funding.

This is what is in the proposed Scottish Government’s Budget on Income Tax

Highlands and Islands SNP MSP Emma Roddick has hit out at the Tory proposals.

Emma Roddick said:

“The Tories’ dispiriting yet predictable response to John Swinney’s penny-for-patient-care budget measure proves yet again that they will always prioritise their ideological unionism above adequately funding the NHS – regardless of the effects on patient care.

“While the Scottish Government announced modest tax rises on the better paid to be spent protecting our NHS, the Tories are effectively proposing a cut in NHS funding of at least £1billion across Scotland – and that works out at an estimated £4.1 million in Orkney.

“The changes the Scottish Government has made to income tax mean around £1 billion-a-year extra is being raised than if we matched UK rates. Our progressive tax policies mean we can deliver record funding for the NHS, up by more than £1 billion and substantially more than we receive from the UK Government for health spending.

“The Tories clearly don’t agree the NHS should be the priority. They believe Scotland should just fall into line with Westminster’s income tax policies no matter what the cost.

“Let’s not forget, that is exactly what they wanted John Swinney to do after Kwasi Kwarteng and Liz Truss’s disastrous budget just a few short months ago. If the Scottish Government had listened to them then we would be in an even more dire situation because of Westminster’s mismanagement of the economy.

“While the ideological Tories are prepared to sacrifice the NHS and the care of patients across Scotland in a misguided attempt to protect their failed union, the SNP Scottish Government will continue to take the tough decisions that best protect the people of Scotland.”