Typical thieving Scot cases the joint? (Image: telegraph.co.uk)
In April, Ruth Davidson welcomed the Scottish Government’s decision not to raise basic rate income tax, as ‘realistic, responsible’. Today, their decision not to copy the UK government’s plans to increase the threshold for the 40% rate and for a supplementary tax on large businesses were presented as a ‘Scotland Surcharge’. BBC Scotland at 06:26 on 4th October 2016, reported:
‘Scottish taxpayers and businesses face a Scotland Surcharge of up to one billion pounds over the next four years, the Scottish Conservatives will claim today.’
We did get a single sentence Scottish Government clarification but, as often before, the report lacked balance, 3:1 ratio of sentences for the Tories over the SG, rigour and explanation – what’s the basis for the £1 billion, which taxpayers and businesses? Well it’s the top 10% of taxpayers (BBC) and 1 in 8 of businesses (Courier). And the £1 billion? Eh, what, em….. Fair or not, the BBC report badly needed this kind of information in the light of a headline lacking it. Perhaps it should have been:
‘The top 10% of Scottish taxpayers and the top 12% of businesses face a Scotland Surcharge of up to one billion pounds over the next four years, the Scottish Conservatives will claim today.’
There’s a fair bit of irony in Ruth defending honest taxpayers given her recent toadying to the PM by playing up a negative Scottish stereotype, in plush art gallery surroundings (archive.is):
‘I’m delighted we have such spectacular surroundings. Usually they put the Scots in a place where nothing can be broken or stolen for that matter!’
Boak?
The full early morning report, repeated every 30 minutes, was:
- A radical extension of the way electronic tags can be used on offenders is being planned by the Scottish Government
- The tax story
- MSPs are to debate the SG budget timetable after the Finance Committee raised concerns about the delayed draft of spending plans
- Trees
- Nobel prize
So that was two bad news stories (2, 3) and one good news story (1) for the SG. Story 2 is, of course, good news for the Tories.
Running Total:
Running total 21 to 4/10/16* Number of reports
Bad news for SG/SNP 13
Good news for SG/SNP 5
Bad news for Labour 1
Good news for Labour 5
Bad news for CP 0
Good news for CP 2
* Monday to Friday only
The trends continue.
Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35864248
http://archive.is/CJfQI#selection-3361.0-3369.95
PDF for printing: who-are-you-calling-a-thief
Talking-up Scotland 
In Herald today but not on RepScot tonight?
‘RUTH Davidson and David Mundell made an “astonishing” error in putting their names to a bungled Tory attack on Scottish Government spending, it was claimed last night.
The Scottish Secretary and Scottish Tory leader were accused of “voodoo maths” after claiming SNP policies meant an extra £1bn tax burden on Scots by 2021.
The Conservatives later admitted almost £400m of the extra money going to Holyrood was due to Tory income tax policy changing the annual block grant in Scotland’s favour
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14779714.Tories_accused_of__voodoo_maths__after_bungled_attack_on_SNP_spending/
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selective omission??
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Rather than unconscious? Yes, I’d say so. The ‘protection of Ruth’ is becoming more and more apparent over time and not just by me.
http://indyref2.scot/protecting-ruth
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A good article. Macintosh is less than even handed in his role but perhaps his loyalty to the party and his ex colleagues at the BBC clouds his judgement
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