SWINNEY STAYS SCHTUM OVER TAX HIKE FOR SCOTS

SCOTTISH voters were told “John Swinney cannot be trusted about any tax rises” after he left the door open to stealth hikes on hard-working Scots in the SNP budget.

- BY BEN BORLAND

The First Minister was branded “the master of wandering drivel” when he said the Scottish Government isn't going to raise income tax rates or introduce any more new bands next year.

But Chancellor Rachel Reeves is to raise £8billion in a stealth hike on the whole of the UK by extending the freeze on the £12,570 threshold, at which people start paying tax.

She also froze the 40% tax threshold for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

And this option is still open to the SNP, with Mr Swinney and Finance Secretary Shona Robison failing to rule out similar stealth taxes by freezing the six tax bands they have imposed on Scottish workers.