Letter: Fair taxes, please

Hugh McLachlan's insightful interpretation of the concept of "fairness" (Comment, 27 October) is a refreshing oasis of logic in the desert of superficial argument, especially regarding politics.

The claim is often made that it is "fair" for the wealthy to be taxed more heavily to provide for the poor, which might possibly apply in the case of a specified tax dedicated exclusively to the poor (however "fairly" they might be defined).

As general taxation, however, some of it would go towards MPs' food allowances.

This might all be dismissed as semantic hair-splitting, but proper use of vocabulary would guide politicians to more accurate justification for their actions. The previous Scottish Parliament thought it fair to gave 20,000 tax-free to councillors agreeing to stand down as compensation for missing out on the salaried structure being introduced!

Robert Dow

Ormiston Road

Tranent

Faced with swingeing cuts in public spending is it not time the Scottish Parliament used its powers under devolution to raise income tax by 3p in the pound and make it clear that this will be used to protect public service?

I know it would be fairer if we could raise tax on the rich and companies which are among the most lowly taxed in Europe, but we don't have those powers, which is why we need independence. In the short term we have limited powers to protect public services and raising income tax is fairer than raising council tax.

Is there a political party willing to put this forward next May?

Hugh Kerr

Braehead Avenue

Edinburgh