Greens urge Scottish Government to bring in ‘mansion tax’ in Budget

The Scottish Greens have urged the Scottish Government to announce a “mansion tax” in its Budget on Tuesday.

Party co-leader Ross Greer has called on Finance Secretary Shona Robison to consider the move, increasing council tax on the three most valuable property bands.

The policy, Greer claims, could raise £125m for local services every year.

Greer said: “Families with elderly or disabled members are being failed because they can’t get the right care packages.

“Teachers and pupils alike are in need of more support in school, with an almost total lack of specialist staff for children with additional support needs.

“And every year communities are forced to fight to save their local libraries and leisure centres from closure.

“But despite the struggles everyone else is facing, the wealthiest people in Scotland are just getting richer.”

He added: “I am calling once again on the Scottish Government to introduce the Scottish Greens’ mansion tax proposal. The money it raises would give our communities the support and care they deserve.”

The Green co-leader said similar proposals to be brought in by the UK Government for England – which will see a surcharge of up to £7,500 levied against homes worth more than £2 million – were too complicated and will not raise much money, but were “at least an attempt to fund public services by taxing the wealthy few”.

“In Scotland we could deliver something far more effective, though, a real mansion tax to fund the essential services we all rely on,” Greer said.

On Thursday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party would not block the Government’s Budget, meaning opposition parties have little leverage to make major changes with John Swinney and his ministers not requiring any votes to pass their plans.