Ian Murray blasts John Swinney for 'shielding millionaires' from inheritance tax
The Scottish Secretary said the First Minister was "tough on nurses, soft on millionaires" during his speech at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow.
Ian Murray has blasted John Swinney for "shielding millionaires from inheritance tax". The Scottish Secretary said the First Minister was "tough on nurses, soft on millionaires" during his speech at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow.
The Edinburgh South MP also said that Swinney "lobbied for tax breaks for private schools" and "refused to back Labour’s plans to tax private jets." The SNP has opposed Labour's plans for inheritance tax to be paid on farms of more than £1 million.
Murray said: "Before the election, we made a promise to end austerity. It was a promise made, and a promise delivered. £4.9bn extra for the Scottish Government. Austerity ended. Made possible, not by slogans or grievance, but by our Scottish Labour MPs and our UK Labour Government budget.
"A budget rooted in Labour values. It gave most to the poorest, and asked those with the broadest shoulders to pay their fair share. The first UK Government budget since Alistair Darling to have a straight line of redistribution along the income scales.
"And how did the SNP respond to this austerity ending budget with the biggest ever settlement for the Scottish Government? They voted against it. Because while John Swinney is quite happy to spend the extra money, he does not share our values when it comes to raising the revenue to pay for it.
"This is the man who lobbied for tax breaks for private schools, wants to shield millionaire landowners from inheritance tax, and just this week refused to back Labour’s plans to tax private jets.
"But of course, he was quite happy to raise taxes on nurses and teachers. John Swinney – tough on nurses, soft on millionaires."
This is the first Scottish Labour conference since Labour won the UK general election in July. Murray is currently the only Scot in the cabinet.
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