3 days ago
The SNP's novel path to national wealth is to redefine ‘rich'
J ust as changing the timetables is by far the simplest way of ensuring the trains run on time, so the Scottish government has hit upon a novel means by which it may demonstrate that Scotland is a wealthier place than ever. It turns out that we are very good at making more rich people in Scotland, but we do so chiefly by changing the definition of 'rich'.
Nine per cent of adults in Scotland in 2021-22 paid tax on at least some of their income at the higher and top rates. This year, about 15 per cent will be hit by the higher (42 per cent), additional (45 per cent) and top (48 per cent) rates of tax. About 728,000 people now qualify as the broad-shouldered rich. As recently as four years ago, only 405,000 did.
