Two Campaigns for the Price of One

Yesterday was busy. We started off in the morning in Kilsyth town centre where myself and the SNP council candidate for the area David Key went to meet many of the local small business owners and managers to discuss some of the issues affecting their business and to explain the SNP policies that are designed to help them.

Specifically we were able to tell them the SNP plans for business rates which would see all small businesses with a rateable value of £8,000 or less having rates abolished in their entirety (which would mean that 120,000 businesses across Scotland would no longer have rates to pay) whilst those with a value of between £8,000 and £10,000 would qualify for rates relief of 50% and those between £10,000 and £15,000 would get relief of 25%. That is significantly more generous than the present system which, for example, sees businesses with a rateable value of £8,000 to £11,500 qualify for a mere 5% rates relief.

The business owners we spoke to were able to say how welcome our proposals are. They would ensure that their businesses have a greater chance of success, are in a better position to consider expansion, and ensure that staff are kept in employment. This is not to mention the possibility of allowing for a greater breadth of shops and services for people in their communities. That is why the SNP backs small business.

Then in the afternoon it was off to Cumbernauld Town Centre where we were able to campaign for the SNP policy of establishing a local income tax in place of the inequitous council tax system. This scheme would set local taxation at the very reasonable level of 3p in the pound on existing income tax bands and would mean that 90% of people in Scotland would pay less in local taxation. This will be welcome news to hard pressed council tax payers who have been hammered by constant rises in the level of council tax, seeing it increase on average by 60% since Labour came to power.

Most people we spoke to were delighted at the prospect of an end to council tax and the creation of a fairer system based on ability to pay. They know that council tax hits hardest those who can least afford it, like pensioners and the low paid. Under the SNP that will change and people will see a link between what they can afford to pay and what they are asked to pay.

Now all we need to do is win the election and make sure that we can bring in a fair system for Scotland's small businesses and Scotland's tax payers.