The SNP’s tax hikes won’t work 

Two self delusions have sustained the SNP through the past couple of decades of devolution. The first is the perennial grievance that deteriorating public services are the result of Westminster austerity. The second is that Scotland’s social problems can be solved through redistribution – by taxing the rich. Both have now collapsed in the face of harsh reality.

Low-growth Scotland generates less wealth each year, there are precious free rich left to tax and the public sector remains utterly dependent on financial life-support from the UK exchequer. This is an economy of almost colonial dependency, far removed from the image of independence propaganda.

Deputy first minister John Swinney’s latest Scottish Budget remains very firmly in the land of delusion. Once again income tax increases are to coincide with deep cuts to Scotland’s unprotected public services, like education and local government. This is even though Scotland has been compensated in full, through the Barnett Formula, for the effects of the recent inflation spike.