Scotland's massive tax shortfall grows to whopping £26.5BILLION
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SCOTLAND's massive tax shortfall has grown again to £26.5 BILLION, it emerged today
The difference between how much our governments spend on public services compared to the revenues raked in north of the border was revealed in a report from SNP ministers.
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Despite the whopping shortfall, Scotland gets £2,669 per person MORE in public spending than the UK average, it was confirmed.
The details emerged in the Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland figures - an official Scottish Government publication - are used annually by pro-UK parties to show how Scotland may struggle to afford independence.
And in recent years - when the "notional" deficit has been huge - they have been wielded by the SNP as evidence of how Scotland is under-performing and needs indy to thrive.
The £26.5bn overspend for 2024/25 - a record for non-Covid times - compares to £21.4bn in 2023/24.
As a percentage of total economic output or GDP, Scotland's deficit is 11.7 per cent - up from 9.7 per cent in a year - compared to the UK's 5.1 per cent, the report says.
The figures include a geographical share of North Sea revenues.
The Scottish Government report said: "The results for this year's publication show overall public finances in Scotland weakening, as expenditure grew faster than revenue.
"Revenues from the North Sea and the Energy Profits Levy fell in 2024-25 for the second year as energy prices continued to fall back from the highs seen in 2022 and 2023.
"Compared to the UK, weaker revenue growth also reflected weaker growth in interest income from student loans and the impact of the Council Tax freeze."
More to follow...
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