1. What will you do to minimise the impact of the cuts planned by the UK Government in Edinburgh Southern?
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES, Gavin Brown, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
No responses have been submitted yet.
SCOTTISH GREENS, Steve Burgess, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
The Scottish Green party has made a clear commitment to proposing an alternative to the big parties cuts agendas, or inaction to prevent the need for public service cuts. As our manifesto (published today at www.scottishgreens.org.uk) states, we would make savings from unnecessary vanity projects that promote unsustainable road use, introduce a fairer Land Value Tax system which would raise funds from those who speculate on underutilised land, and increase taxation on those most able to pay. These savings or increased revenues would be used to protect Scotland from cuts to public services as well an improve programs and services that promote sustainability.
SCOTTISH LABOUR, Paul Godzik, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
There clearly will be some very difficult decisions to be made in the next Parliament, and there is no escaping that the budget from Westminster is declining. Scottish Labour have outlined a number of plans aimed to reduce bureaucracy including the introduction of a single police force (saving some £150-200m) a single fire and rescue service and a reduction of the 22 health boards in Scotland.
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, Mike Pringle, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
Liberal Democrats support fairer, more progressive taxes. Our colleagues in Westminster have secured an increase in the income tax threshold, lessening the income tax burden on the poorest households. For our part, the Scottish Liberal Democrats argue that the unfair council tax should be replaced with a more progressive local income tax. While the current devolution arrangement makes it difficult for the Scottish Parliament to have a big impact on tax policy, new powers which the Parliament will be given under the Scotland Bill in 2015 will make reform easier. Meanwhile, in the Parliament which begins after the 5th May election, we want to make sure that no pensioner with an income below £10,000 has to pay any council tax. This simple change will protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society from the effects of the current economic problems.
Liberal Democrats support fairer, more progressive taxes. Our colleagues in Westminster have secured an increase in the income tax threshold, lessening the income tax burden on the poorest households. For our part, the Scottish Liberal Democrats argue that the unfair council tax should be replaced with a more progressive local income tax. While the current devolution arrangement makes it difficult for the Scottish Parliament to have a big impact on tax policy, new powers which the Parliament will be given under the Scotland Bill in 2015 will make reform easier. Meanwhile, in the Parliament which begins after the 5th May election, we want to make sure that no pensioner with an income below £10,000 has to pay any council tax. This simple change will protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society from the effects of the current economic problems.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY, Marco Biagi, Edinburgh Central Candidate
I support independence and full financial autonomy for the Scottish Parliament, so my ideal situation would not be making those cuts. The first step should be genuine savings - reducing administration budgets, civil service pay, police HQs etc. The second is revenue enhancement in the fairest possible way - like the Large Retailers Levy or the removal of Council Tax exemption from unoccupied homes. I realise these will not go the whole way, but even if our devolved budgets were larger we still would not be able to counteract UK cuts to the
disabled, to employment rights and to other reserved areas.
I support independence and full financial autonomy for the Scottish Parliament, so my ideal situation would not be making those cuts. The first step should be genuine savings - reducing administration budgets, civil service pay, police HQs etc. The second is revenue enhancement in the fairest possible way - like the Large Retailers Levy or the removal of Council Tax exemption from unoccupied homes. I realise these will not go the whole way, but even if our devolved budgets were larger we still would not be able to counteract UK cuts to the
disabled, to employment rights and to other reserved areas.
SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY, Colin Fox, SSP National Spokesman and Lothians List Candidate
I will oppose all public spending cuts for two very good reasons, they are unnecessary and they let the real culprits responsible for the current economic collapse completely off the hook. I simply do not accept that working people and the poor should be made to pay for a financial collapse caused by greedy, reckless bankers. Therefore I would suggest rather than cutting the jobs, pay and conditions of millions of low paid public sector workers and decimating services to the vulnerable that we instead tax the rich and take the banks profits into public ownership, not merely their liabilities. Furthermore I believe the morally right thing to do is to seal the tax loopholes which see literally billions and billions of pounds flood out of this country to tax havens. I also believe we should stop paying billions of pounds on nuclear weapons and on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. I hope this illustrates the radically different programme which the SSP advocates to cure our economic ills as compared to our opponents.
2. Do you support the ‘Robin Hood Tax’?
Yes No
Please elaborate further on your answer:
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES, Gavin Brown, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
No responses have been submitted yet.
SCOTTISH GREENS, Steve Burgess, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
Yes, Absolutely. We believe that the larger parties have spent decades allowing rich bankers to profit at the expense of everyone else in society and this must stop. The Robin Hood tax is a good start towards beginning to redress this imbalance.
SCOTTISH LABOUR, Paul Godzik, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
I have been a strong supporter of the Tobin Tax/Robin Hood Tax for many years, and believe that it could and should provide national governments with a revenue stream which seeks to tackle inequality.
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, Mike Pringle, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
Same answer as above.
Same answer as above.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY, Marco Biagi, Edinburgh Central Candidate
Yes. I've long supported a Tobin Tax, but the Robin Hood Tax proposal would
both raise revenue in a fair way and calm a volatile market. That's a
win-win for the country.
Yes. I've long supported a Tobin Tax, but the Robin Hood Tax proposal would
both raise revenue in a fair way and calm a volatile market. That's a
win-win for the country.
SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY, Colin Fox, SSP National spokesman and Lothians List Candidate
Yes. I support the so called 'Robin Hood tax' or Tobin tax as it is also known which advocates a small levy on all financial transactions which would collectively go to those most in need. This is a progressive suggestion which would make a start in redistributing the substantial profits made by the world’s stock exchanges and financial centres.
3. What would you do, if elected, to curb tax avoidance in Scotland?
SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES, Gavin Brown, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
No responses have been submitted yet.
SCOTTISH GREENS, Steve Burgess, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
The SGP is committed to making people and companies pay their fair share based on their ability to pay, and reducing tax avoidance is a key part of this. We would change legislation that allows companies to avoid paying tax, eliminate incentives to use "off-shore" and other such methods and introduce a Land Value tax that would curb profiting from damaging speculation on land and property prices.
SCOTTISH LABOUR, Paul Godzik, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
This is a matter for the UK Government.
SCOTTISH LIBERAL DEMOCRATS, Mike Pringle, Edinburgh Southern Candidate
Same answer as above.
Same answer as above.
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY, Marco Biagi, Edinburgh Central Candidate
Unfortunately, as Scotland only has power over Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates, we do not have scope to curb tax avoidance by either high wealth individuals or businesses. Seven years ago I was working in the Inland Revenue on a short-term project looking at offshore evasion and avoidance. The extent was breathtaking. After I'd left I took out membership of the Tax Justice Network, formed by Richard Murphy and Prem Sikka, largely as a symbolic show of support. As an MSP I would work to raise awareness of the problem with the resources available. I believe large-scale tax avoidance is one of the great financial injustices of our time. It is not a society in any sense of the word if a billionaire is paying less tax than their household cleaner. And in some cases they are.
Unfortunately, as Scotland only has power over Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates, we do not have scope to curb tax avoidance by either high wealth individuals or businesses. Seven years ago I was working in the Inland Revenue on a short-term project looking at offshore evasion and avoidance. The extent was breathtaking. After I'd left I took out membership of the Tax Justice Network, formed by Richard Murphy and Prem Sikka, largely as a symbolic show of support. As an MSP I would work to raise awareness of the problem with the resources available. I believe large-scale tax avoidance is one of the great financial injustices of our time. It is not a society in any sense of the word if a billionaire is paying less tax than their household cleaner. And in some cases they are.
SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY, Colin Fox, SSP National spokesman and Lothians List Candidate
Not only would I curb tax avoidance I would insist that the better off pay fairer and more realistic taxes than they presently do. The SSP advocates scrapping the hated and unjust Council tax -which is charged against nominal valuations of houses - and replace it with a graduated income tax which rises as income rises. This would result in those with incomes of below £15,000 being exempt from local tax whilst the richer pay 20% of their entire income over £100,000 pa.