Professor John Robertson OBA
The Telegraph last week had:
Scotland plots uncapped council tax rises for second home owners – Green Party’s ‘pile on the costs’ proposal will be ‘gold standard’ for tackling homelessness. Councils in Scotland are poised to be granted powers to penalise second home owners with uncapped council tax premiums.
Today, the Herald has the above grudging headline and:
Rent controls are set to be introduced in Scotland after the Scottish Government’s housing reform legislation passed at Holyrood. MSPs approved an amendment by the Scottish Greens allowing council tax on second and empty homes to be raised by unlimited amounts, potentially to the 300 per cent already in place in Wales.
300%? Looks like the Telegraph was well informed. When I wrote about that last week, I ended with – ‘More, I say!’
On the Second Homes Tax, I know, based on the evidence that matters, access to a decent home for local people on moderate incomes, it is a good thing and the more it has effect the better it will be.
From Minister for Housing correspondence and empty homes statistics: FOI release published on 16th January, we can see that in 2024, there were 65 144 empty second homes, down 7 % from 70 278 in 2023 and 43 538 properties empty for 6 months, down 7% from 46 217 in 2023.
This change is largely due to:
Powers enabling Councils in Scotland to apply either, a 50% Council Tax discount, the standard rate, or an up to 100% council tax premium (double the rate) on second homes came into force in April 2024. 30 local authorities have introduced the premium in some form as of September 2024.
Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202400438694/
So, rent controls, second home tax hikes, the child payment, free prescriptions, free tuition…….why would anyone in their right mind ever want a Labour government in Scotland, never mind Reform UK. The SNP is the only large social democratic party in the UK that cares for the 99%. Get out and vote for it in 2026!
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I note that my question from a few weeks ago was not answered, so I will ask again.
As various polls show the high probability that The SNP will not have a majority after next year’s Holyrood election, who will enter into a “confidence and supply” agreement?
The Greens again? The Lib Dems?
How will things like the budget pass after next year’s election?
There are several things to take into account, we will obviously know more next year, before and after the election.
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The budget will pass in the way it has always been passed when the SNP did not have a majority. It will agree to pass legislation proposed by, say, Greens and/or LibDems in return for support for the budget, which might have been modified in response to aspects requested by these parties. That is how such things are done here and elsewhere. The Tories have also supported SNP budgets when Annabelle Goldie was leader. Labour is always oppositionist.
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