This year, people across the Borders will pay more tax but get even less from the SNP Government.
The SNP’s latest budget included a dire mixture of tax hikes for middle earners and funding cuts to essential public services.
This new budget means that everyone in Scotland earning over £28,850 will pay more tax than people who live south of the border earning the exact same wage.
A family household with earnings of £50,000 will pay approximately £1,542 more than they would in the rest of the UK.
That's deeply unfair to hardworking people. Why should people in Scotland pay more than people in England who are doing the same job and earning the same amount? This comes after years of Scotland already being the highest taxed part of the UK.
There was unfairness in the SNP's budget for Scottish businesses too. They were refused business rates relief that is available for their competitors south of the border. So next year, many small businesses in Scotland will pay more tax and be at a disadvantage compared to similar companies across the UK.
I am particularly frustrated that the SNP also cut support for rural areas at the same time as hiking taxes.
Analysis shows that the total Rural Affairs, Land Reform & Islands budget will be cut by £98.3 million in real terms over the next year.
I find it disgraceful that Humza Yousaf’s government is slashing support for rural areas because, while they don't want to admit it and try to claim otherwise, the SNP will actually receive a record amount of funding from the UK Government this year.
The UK Government is providing more than £43 billion for the Scottish Government – the highest level of funding ever.
So it really is scandalous that the SNP are still insisting on cutting the rural affairs budget, which makes a real difference to places across the Borders.
This demonstrates again how damaging the SNP's alliance with the Greens is for people outside of the central belt, away from Scotland's biggest cities. Humza Yousaf simply doesn't understand the additional challenges of providing public services where we live.
This budget was more confirmation, as if it was needed, that the Borders doesn't get its fair share from the SNP.
