Press Story

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A tepid Budget that didn't begin to address Scotland’s pressing challenges, says IPPR Scotland

Stephen Boyd, IPPR Scotland director, said:

“IPPR Scotland welcomes the higher rate of Scottish Child Payment for children under one, announced in the Budget today. We look forward to the additional measures to reduce child poverty to be announced in March.

However, this was ultimately a tepid Budget that didn't begin to address Scotland’s pressing challenges or point towards significant progress in delivering the First Minister’s four key priorities of eradicating child poverty, tackling the climate emergency, growing the economy and ensuring high quality and sustainable public services.

The new Council Tax bands are welcome but don’t begin to substitute for the radical reform to local taxation demanded by almost every stakeholder, and it won’t provide a meaningful revenue boost to those local authorities lacking housing at higher valuations.

Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s priorities. This can’t go on. The next Scottish government must urgently prioritise the development of a long-term tax strategy for Scotland that can meet the spending needs of Scotland’s people while addressing the looming fiscal gap.”

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:

IPPR Scotland director Stephen Boyd is available for interviews.

CONTACT:

Sukhada Tatke, media and impact officer at IPPR Scotland: s.tatke@ippr.org 07901169121

NOTE TO EDITORS:

IPPR Scotland shapes public policy in pursuit of a fairer, greener, more prosperous Scotland.