John Swinney refuses to rule out tax rises in Scotland in January

John Swinney has refused to rule out tax rises in the Scottish budget at the end of January.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay repeatedly asked Swinney if he was planning to raise taxes on Scots next year at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.

Swinney said decisions on tax have to be considered “very carefully”.

Swinney was challenged about his tax position amid wide speculation that the UK chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning to propose increases in three weeks’ time.

Reeves took the unusual step of delivering a “scene setter” speech on Tuesday, but declined to recommit to Labour’s manifesto commitments not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT.

She instead warned that “we will all have to contribute” to securing the country’s economic future.

“There is a huge amount of speculation about the UK Budget,” the First Minister said on Thursday.

“The Scottish Government will set out our position on tax in the budget on January 13. We will consider all issues and implications for the UK Government’s approach to the budget in November.”

He added: “Russell Findlay won’t be surprised to hear me say these questions will be answered in the budget when the Scottish Government sets out to Parliament the commitments we are going to make.”

The Scottish Conservative leader accused Swinney of “spinning like a washing machine” before saying that people “deserve to keep more of their hard earned cash”.

“[Swinney’s] answers today won’t assure any Scottish worker, businesses or home owners,” Findlay said.

“He won’t rule out increasing tax on buying a home; he won’t rule out raising taxes on businesses; and it seems he’s plotting yet another income tax raise on hard working Scots.

“And on top of all that, the SNP plan could result in massive rises to council tax – reportedly as high as £6,500 a year. Raising tax every year is not sustainable.”

The First Minister insisted that the chancellor will be accountable for the decisions she makes at the end of the month, and he said the Scottish Government “will take our decisions accordingly”.

Swinney added: “We will bring forward an orderly budget position which will relate to tax and spending commitments so we can fund our public services and investments in the Scottish economy.”