Bills for Scots must come down and taxpayers should be given a better deal, the Scottish Conservatives will demand this week.
Holyrood’s largest opposition party will lead a debate on Wednesday which will see shadow finance secretary Craig Hoy outline plans that would give Scots a tax cut worth up to £444 a year.
The proposals to reduce the costs of government include cutting the size of the SNP’s civil service back to 2016 levels, tackling the rising number of public sector fat-cats, ensuring money will go to the frontline and reintroducing the ministerial pay freeze.
Craig Hoy says that Scots are paying more but getting less under the SNP who are using more and more taxpayers’ money to pay for state spending, instead of frontline services.
He added that the Scottish Conservatives believe things can be done differently and a smaller state would help deliver lower taxes and better services for Scots.
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for finance and local government Craig Hoy said: “Under the SNP, hard-working Scots are paying the highest taxes in the UK but are getting less and less in return.
“Over their 18 years in power, the civil service has ballooned in size to record levels and more and more taxpayers’ money is getting used for state spending, rather than on frontline services.
“Our debate this week will call for this culture to come to an end, and for Scots to finally get a better deal.
“Our proposals would deliver a tax cut worth hundreds of pounds a year to hard-pressed taxpayers, while shrinking the size of the SNP’s bloated and creaking state.
“Holyrood’s cosy left-wing consensus might believe an ever-bigger state and higher taxes is only the way forward, but we believe things can be done differently.
“By delivering a smaller state, Scots can enjoy a much-needed tax cut and better public services, which have been ruined by the SNP.”