Scottish independence: IFS tax questions raised

ALEX Salmond was attacked over the SNP’s economic plans for independence at today’s First Minister’s questions after a think tank claimed an independent Scotland would need to cut spending or increase taxes.
Johann Lamont raised questions over tax in an independent Scotland. Picture: TSPLJohann Lamont raised questions over tax in an independent Scotland. Picture: TSPL
Johann Lamont raised questions over tax in an independent Scotland. Picture: TSPL

Labour leader Johann Lamont highlighted this week’s report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) that said an independent Scotland

would face a “fiscal gap” of 1.9 per cent of national income, compared to 0.8 per cent for the UK.

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Ms Lamont accused Mr Salmond of “selectively quoting” from the report after SNP ministers had claimed the IFS had backed-up the case for independence.

Johann Lamont raised questions over tax in an independent Scotland. Picture: TSPLJohann Lamont raised questions over tax in an independent Scotland. Picture: TSPL
Johann Lamont raised questions over tax in an independent Scotland. Picture: TSPL

The Labour leader asked Mr Salmond why “the people of Scotland should believe him rather than the evidence of their own eyes” as she attacked the SNP ahead of next week’s launch of a Scottish government White Paper on independence.

However, Mr Salmond said that “Scotland more than pays its way in the UK” as he insisted an independent Scotland would be financially sustainable.

He went onto claim that Scotland would have a “bright and certain” future with more public funds invested in creating jobs and growing

the economy under independence.