Letter: Green policy raises taxing electoral issue

The recent economic views of the Scottish Green Party (various reports) suggest that they have not actually studied Scotland's economic position. Their suggestion that we do not pay enough tax is not just crazy but self-defeating.

In a world run mainly by market economies, their ideas of very high tax and total state control belong more to 19th century Marxism than the inter-connected economies of the 21st century.

At the moment, 1 earned by a private company (I realise they despise private enterprise) is taxed by 12.8 per cent employer's National Insurance, 11 per cent employee's National Insurance and 20 per cent income tax, leaving around 57p in the actual wage packet.

If the employee buys something liable for VAT, then the actual value of the goods then that original 1 buys is around 44p. If the employee is foolish enough to want to purchase fuel or alcohol, then the actual purchase value is much less.

Quite how the Greens think that we are not paying enough tax is unbelievable, unless of course they want a country of tee-totallers in sackcloth moving goods by handcart.

Normally such opinions at variance with normal thinking could be dismissed, but thanks to the lottery of the Scottish Government list system of election, it means that parties with quite extreme views can get elected and, due to the finely balanced difference in numbers between the parties, can actually hold a balance of power.

The solution to the deficit annual budget and high accumulated debt, which along with our Scottish Government list voting system is a legacy of the last Labour administration, is a recognition of the part enterprise and low rates of taxation play in making an economy competitive.

When we all vote this year on both the constituency and the list system, we should perhaps vote for parties which have a sensible policy on economic matters.

BRUCE D SKIVINGTON

Strath

Gairloch, Wester Ross