Letters: Independence tax

I noticed with interest the comments by economist Christopher Allsopp that an independent Scotland’s desire to slash corporation tax would be “strongly resisted” by the European Union.

What Mr Allsopp neglects to mention is that the EU has absolutely no power over corporation tax rates, and in order for the commission to assume these powers that would require the unanimous agreement of all the member states.

This is a situation which would, of course, be strongly resisted by a number of these states, such as the UK and Ireland for starters.

The independence debate needs to be one based on the facts, not blatant scaremongering.

Alex Orr

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh

You report that Christopher Allsopp is of the opinion that the SNP would be unable to reduce corporation tax in an independent Scotland due to opposition by the EU, and also that there would be opposition by the government to different corporation tax rates within the UK (28 April).

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have already agreed to different rates within the UK and, on their behalf, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Owen Paterson MP, is now campaigning for a different rate in Northern Ireland.

So Mr Alex Salmond, First Minister, is correct. This does not mean that a lower rate of corporation tax would be good for the Scottish people as the block grant from the Treasury to Scotland would be considerably reduced.

Lord Kilclooney (Cross-bencher)

House of Lords London, and Mullinure

Armagh City