Michelle Thomson for Falkirk East

SNP CALL ON ROSS TO 'STOP RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS LEADERSHIP'

The SNP has challenged Scottish Tory Leader, Douglas Ross, to condemn Rishi Sunak's comments that it would be "silly" to provide more support to help families struggling with the Cost of Living crisis.

The Tory Chancellor made the comments last week when he confirmed that he won’t consider much needed, further support to help households with the current pressure of rising costs.

TORY TAX HIKE ‘COMPOUNDING SPIRALLING COST OF LIVING CRISIS’

People in Scotland are still receiving the fairest tax deal compared with the rest of the UK amidst the Tory National Insurance hikes.

For 2022/23, Scottish median earners can expect to pay £18.79 less than median earners in England and Wales. In total, median earners in Scotland will pay £2,661.41 in income tax, whilst those in England and Wales will pay £2,680.20.

Whilst the average band D council tax payers in Scotland will pay £619 less than those in England and £430 less than the equivalent in Wales.

Leading a debate on International Women’s Day (IWD) today, SNP MSP Michelle Thomson will dedicate the debate to the women and girls caught up in the conflict following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The debate is taking place in advance of IWD 2022 which takes place on 8th March. This year’s theme is Break The Bias and seeks to highlight the impact of bias, both conscious and unconscious, on women and girls and to imagine a world free of bias, stereotype and discrimination.

Michelle Thomson MSP is asking all MSPs participating to join her in dedicating the debate to the women and girls caught up in the current conflict following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

MAJORITY OF SCOTS WILL PAY LESS IN TAX THAN ELSEWHERE IN THE UK

Scotland will continue to have the fairest tax system anywhere in the UK as the Scottish Parliament passed a resolution agreeing income tax bands for 2022/23.

As a result, a majority of people in Scotland will continue to pay less in income tax than if they lived elsewhere in the UK, whilst those who earn more will pay proportionately more.

In line with the SNP’s manifesto commitment in the election in May, income tax rates will be frozen for the 2022/23 financial year.

WEEKLY TV APPEARANCES DOMINATED BY TORY MEN

The SNP has slammed the Scottish Tories for failing to contribute towards gender balanced political panels on key Scottish television programmes.

On BBC Scotland’s Debate Night programme, the Tories have failed miserably to provide a 50/50 split between male and female MSPs. Since the Scottish Parliament elections in May, the Tories have provided one woman in 12 shows. Across the same episodes, 58% of participants from the SNP were female.