Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 07 January 2026
07 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Income Tax
When it comes to the amount of money that has been invested in public services, the UK Labour Government inherited not just an economy that had flatlined for 14 years but public services in acute crisis and a significant black hole in the public finances. In order to address those, money had to be raised, and that money has to come from somewhere. The SNP continually claims from the Scottish Government benches that we can have an infinite amount of money and that it does not matter where that comes from—an additional £130 billion of borrowing, it has claimed, for across the UK. Money to invest in public services has to come from somewhere. We have to make sure that we raise taxes and we take tough decisions about how that can happen.
However, the personal tax bills that people are paying are considerable. As I have said, people on middle incomes are hard pressed and are struggling to make ends meet.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20294, in the name of Craig Hoy, on lowering bills for Scotland’s workers. I invite those members who wis...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I wish you a happy new year, Deputy Presiding Officer. This year, 2026, must be the year in which Scotland’s politicians tackle the cost of living crisis. P...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
Let me begin with a point of consensus. We all want to ease the pressure on household budgets. Across Scotland, people are still feeling the strain of the co...
Craig Hoy
Con
If we come forward with fully costed proposals to meet the cost of our tax cuts, will the minister come forward with fully costed proposals to find the £10 b...
Ivan McKee
SNP
If the member read the work that we have already published—the fiscal sustainability delivery plan and the medium-term financial strategy—he would find that ...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Ivan McKee
SNP
I will if I have time.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
There is no extra time available.
Ivan McKee
SNP
I am sorry, but I need to make some progress. Our approach is fair. We ask those with the broadest shoulders to contribute a little more so that families an...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
A happy new year to you, Presiding Officer. People are feeling the burden of higher prices and of wages that barely increased in the 14 years of the Tories....
Liz Smith
Con
Will the member give way?
Michael Marra
Lab
Not yet, as I am just beginning. Six interest rate cuts have brought the average cost of a mortgage down by £1,500. The average wage is up by £1,800, as the...
Liz Smith
Con
I entirely agree with what Michael Marra has just said, but where does Labour stand when it comes to the huge burden of the national insurance tax on employe...
Michael Marra
Lab
When it comes to the amount of money that has been invested in public services, the UK Labour Government inherited not just an economy that had flatlined for...
Craig Hoy
Con
Will Mr Marra give way?
Michael Marra
Lab
No thank you, sir. The public are more likely to accept paying a bit more in tax if they can see improvements in public services. One has to come with the o...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I always welcome the chance to debate the tax system and how to make it fairer, and I am proud of the Green record in achieving that. Our 2016 manifesto prop...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
I agree with the notion that our current politics is defined by the cost of living and by people’s perception of whether their Government or Governments are ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Jamie Greene
LD
I have less than a minute; otherwise I would have done so. Of course, we need to raise earnings across the board, because raised earnings will inevitably le...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate, with speeches of up to four minutes. 15:17
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to speak in favour of our motion, which calls for lower bills for workers, who are suffering as a result of the cost of living crisis, and for a...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is in his last minute.
Alexander Stewart
Con
I am in my last minute. I want Scotland’s tax system to support growth, reward work and deliver lower bills for Scottish workers. As we have already heard, ...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
I am happy to contribute to today’s debate. The last time that I took part in a Tory debate, Mr Hoy happened to be closing it. He said that my speech was one...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Jamie Hepburn has just said that more than half of taxpayers in Scotland pay less income tax than is paid elsewhere...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Ross will be aware that that is not a point of order. It is up to members to determine in what way they seek to contribute—Interruption. I say to members ...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
The Parliament is designed to stand up for working people in Scotland. However, since the SNP took office, working people have been told—not asked, but told—...
Ivan McKee
SNP
That is the whole point: tax pays for those free things, which people would not get if we did what the Conservative Party wants us to do and reduced tax rates.