The Herald today on behalf of the people, based on opinion polls, already predisposed to vote Labour, in the hope of cutting their taxes and the benefits of others (classic Labour these days), has:
Middle-class Scots pulled into higher tax bands by Budget freeze
There’s a long history of people in the UK calling themselves ‘middle-class’ when their economic circumstances are far from the middle in any objective sense. Just because sociologists recognise your cultural preferences to be ‘middle class’ doesn’t mean that entitles you to only pay income tax at the same level of people in the middle income range when your income is objectively above the middle. We can’t run a taxation system based on whether folk can bear to or pretend to listen to opera.
There are around 3.2 million taxpayers in Scotland and around 800 000, the top 25%, will be in the top bands, because, more than the others, they can afford to. You can’t be in the top 25% and ‘middle’ at the same time. The streets are full of expensive cars and house prices climb fast yet they are bought. Judging by the streets I walk the dog around, I’m surprised these folk are only at 25%.
These people are also not SNP people. From a YouGov poll in 2020, well before the ‘change’ tide in July 2024, it’s clear that SNP support is and remains significantly (around 15%) stronger among the working classes (C2DE) than among the middle and upper classes (ABC1).
Why might that be? It’s kind of easy.
The sharp contrast between the SNP and UK Tory governments on health, taxation, welfare and housing, on top of falling crime levels and now, far better management of a pandemic, appeals strongly to those who have less and are who less secure. Remember, many of the working-classes are older reliable voters who care little for McKenna’s concerns.
Most of the working classes are not interested in football, far less the Old Firm. Judging by her massive popularity most of the population admire a leader who is clear, consistent, unpretentious and demonstrably on their side.
The SNP clearly does have a problem with the more affluent in our society who see and resent the more favourable tax allowances in England. Can that be changed? Does it matter that much?
Sources:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-income-tax-technical-factsheet
https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2026-2027/pages/3
https://fiscalcommission.scot/
https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/l0arqcm4ea/TimesResults_200810_ScotlandV2_W.pdf
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
It would be a mistake for the Independence campaign to seek to persuade these people to join. They are quite happy with the destruction of society that Thatcher and her heirs have wrought. One of the strongest reasons for Scottish Independence is to break the chains that tie us to the pernicious anti-social neo-liberal ideology the dominates the cities of London and Westminster.
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I have been having trouble posting lately ? but will try again as I thought this might be of interest to you.
https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/drug-dealer-jailed-after-heroin-found-hidden-inside-sock-in-424433/
Here’s hoping
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I love your writing and your dismantling of pro-Union mistruths and distortions. However, I would caution you against labelling all those in the top 25% of earnings as against Indy and for low taxes etc.
I earn in the top 25%. I did not achieve this by standing on the backs of others or any other negative stereotype. I am fully aware how lucky I am, and I am happy to pay my fair share.
I am a passionate advocate for the SNP’s approach to taxation and public services. We need to do all we can to slow/stop the move towards an American system that crushes those who have least while rewarding selfishness and greed.
Be careful not to alienate an important – and due to fiscal drag growing – section of the population.
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It’s pro union , and anti SNP. It’s British state lies and propaganda and it’s incessant, it’s dangerous for Scotland, it’s all by design and if the BritEnglish take control of Holyrood again, heaven help us. They will lay waste to all and every positive SNP policy put in place, to start to repair the terrible damage of the decades and more, of being under the jackboots of the English state.
I don’t think it’s about alienating the better off, just pointing out the lies and propaganda assault on Scotland to attempt to brainwash the people. Just have to see the daily rags’ headlines at the propaganda stands, at shop checkouts, it’s in your face even if you never buy their rubbish.
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I’m just worried about the language in an earlier comment. ‘These people’ are not all the enemy of the indy movement, they are not all intent on the destruction ofthe good work the SNP has done. I know many wgo are as passionately pro-indy as I am. I’m just cautioning against labelling everyone on an above-average wage as such. We’re talking 25% of voters, after all.
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The affluent being asked to take up the slack again, really ?
While the middle class are once again ‘piggy in the middle’ ? Ha Ha and also really ?
Come on now Professor, be fair, as how will one be able to have one’s skiing trips (plural) abroad……what with all of these SNP Lefty woke mob making us pay more at a time when we have essential needs , such as skiing trips (plural) abroad.
One’s disposable income should be on one’s self and not on one’s country.
I mean there will be a mass exodus of wealthy people if this continues, as why should we, the wealthy, have to pay our share when there is so many people receiving unnecessary welfare payments , that we the wealthy , are all paying for.
Surely a more pragmatic solution, for us mainly, is to reduce what we the wealthy are paying to the (UK) State or the country (Scotland) and then increase the amount of people being declared as ineligible for welfare payments and then everyone will be happy.
Why is it we the wealthy have to limit our spending on our extravagant lifestyles , what about our human rights to spend spend spend upon ourselves mostly to live a luxurious life.
Who speaks for the rich ?
I mean that is the vibe if not the way that the media presents it , is it not ?
Liz S
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Aye there’s plenty extremely well off folks in the capital city of Edinburgh, millionaires galore. SUVs, are getting bigger, more like private buses. They are rolling in it.
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It’s even worse in the US (Westminster’s role model). Everyone there is either middle class or elite. The US doesn’t have a working class now – they’re called “Chinese”.
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