SMITH CONDEMNS TORY DUPLICITY ON BUSINESS RATES
April 15, 2010 5:57 PM
North East Fife MSP, Iain Smith today severely criticised the Conservative Party's decision to support the SNP to allow back-breaking business rate increases.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats brought a motion to Parliament today calling for a cap on the percentage of business rate increases in the current financial year. Despite having put out campaign literature across Scotland describing the rates increases as unfair and calling for action from the SNP, the Tories voted with the SNP to defeat the motion.
Mr Smith said: "Many businesses in North East Fife can't afford these rates increases and jobs may be lost.
"In a campaign leaflet, the Tories say the new rates valuation brought in under this SNP Government is unfair and demand action from the SNP, but in Parliament they vote with the SNP to support its failure to take action to help businesses.
"In the debate all John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance could offer to businesses facing crippling rates bills was that they could appeal against the new valuations. For many even if they were successful this would be too little too late as they still have to pay the bills in the meantime.
"Today we have seen that neither the SNP nor the Conservatives are willing to lift a finger to help the many hotels, cafes, shops and other businesses in North East Fife who are facing these unacceptable increases in their rates bills".
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats