This year’s STUC Congress will likely pass several motions calling for improvements in public services that will impact public finances. Political conferences, campaign groups, and even think tanks are similar!
Less consideration is given to enhancing public finances to fund essential service improvements. This briefing addresses this issue as part of our collaboration with Tax Justice Scotland. It will also be the focus of our fringe meeting at Congress on Wednesday 30 April.
Relying primarily on Income Tax from working people is likely to be unsustainable as our population ages. We, therefore, need to build a broader tax base to protect our essential public services. These should ensure that those who can afford it pay their fair share and act as an incentive for businesses to adopt practices that benefit our communities and the environment.
Scotland desperately needs fairer and better taxes to fund action on poverty and inequality while investing in care and tackling the climate crisis. We look forward to discussing these at the STUC.