The SNP want to tax profits on Irn Bru but not on oil, Ian Murray MP has claimed ahead of Commons debate on the cost of living.
Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary said the SNP proposals calling for a “broad-based windfall tax on the excess profits of major companies” was a half-baked plan to help hard-pressed families.
With the SNP due to hold a Commons debate on the cost of living crisis Murray said the SNP’s continued refusal to back Labour’s plan for a windfall tax on the huge profits made by North Sea oil companies would leave nationalists supporting a “tax on ginger but not on gas”.
Ahead of the Commons debate, Murray said: “While Labour is proposing a fully-costed plan with a windfall tax on oil and gas producers to help Scottish families pay their bills, the SNP is proposing to tax Irn-Bru.”
He added: “After weeks of defending their shameful decision to side with the Tories in failing to back Labour’s windfall tax on oil and gas producers, the SNP still won’t back our plan.”
Murray made his sally against the SNP before Stephen Flynn MP, the SNP Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesman, opened the debate.
The SNP motion, which is not binding on the government, will propose “a broad-based windfall tax that targets Amazon and other large retailers, as well as energy companies”.
But Flynn, the MP for Aberdeen South, warned against “an ill-considered smash-and-grab on the north east of Scotland proposed by others”, a reference to Labour’s £11 billion windfall tax on oil company profits."
Murray said: “These are half-baked proposals, with no answers on who would be taxed, how much they would be taxed, and how much money would be raised.”
SNP MP Stephen Flynn responded: “Labour and Ian Murray’s plans are all fizz and no substance.”
“While Labour promotes its ill-considered smash-and-grab on the north east of Scotland, the SNP has been clear in our calls for a broad-based windfall tax on all major companies that have made excessive profits during the pandemic and energy crisis
“The SNP has put forward a clear plan that will help tackle the cost-of-living crisis while Labour’s reckless approach of solely focusing on oil and gas firms lets other companies raking in massive profits, including Amazon, off the hook.”
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