Tackling Poverty
The Cost of Living Crisis
Scottish households are facing an unprecedented challenge when it comes to the cost of living.
Despite promises made by the Scottish Government, Scotland has been dragged out of the EU against our will - BREXIT is now estimated to leave every Scot £1,200 worse off.
Between 2015 & 2019 energy prices in Scotland increased by an estimated 40%. They are now set to rise by another £700 for every household which risks pushing a quarter of Scottish households into fuel poverty.
The UK Government has cut Universal Credit by £20/week.
The cost of food has been rising with many essentials now priced at more than double what they were at this time last year. These increases are set to continue.
Inflation has risen to the highest level in nearly 30 years - and is expected to hit 7% this year.
The UK Government is now increasing taxes via National Insurance payments, starting in April this year.
Many of these factors in the increasing cost of living could have been avoided, had the Scottish Government acted on the various electoral mandates for a second independence referendum. But one thing is clear, time is not on our side. The Scottish Government must act now to prevent Scottish households being plunged further into debt.
- The ALBA Party calls on the Scottish Government fund a 50% reduction in household energy bills immediately.
A Progressive Tax Policy for Scotland
If Scotland is to have the best public services possible and a social security system based on fairness, which rejects the Westminster system of punishing those most in need in our society, then we require a far bolder and more progressive tax system.
Whilst Scotland remains part of the UK, many of the key fiscal levers to generate income and boost the economy are in the hands of the Westminster Government however we are calling on the Scottish Government from 2023/24 onwards to create additional tax bands as follows:
- A new bottom higher rate band of £43,663 to £70,000 at 41%; a new higher rate band of £70,001 to £100,00 at 42.5%; a new upper higher rate band of £100,000 to £150,000 at 47.5%.; with the top rate of income over £150,000 being set at 50%.
Current Income Tax Bands
| Starter Rate | £12,571 to £14,732 | 19% |
| Basic Rate | £14,733 to £25,688 | 20% |
| Intermediate Rate | £25,689 to £43,662 | 21% |
| Higher Rate | £43,663 to £150,000 | 41% |
| Top Rate | Over £150,000 | 46% |
Proposed Income Tax Bands
| Starter rate | £12,571 to £14,732 | 19% |
| Basic rate | £14,733 to £25,688 | 20% |
| Intermediate rate | £25,689 to £43,662 | 21% |
| Bottom Higher rate | £43,663 to £70,000 | 41% |
| Higher rate | £70,001 to £100,000 | 42.5% |
| Upper Higher Rate | £100,001 to £150,000 | 47.5% |
| Top Rate | Over £150,000 | 50% |
ALBA's Five Point Plan to tackle child and family poverty
- 1. Introduce an Annual £500 payment to assist half a million low earnings households in Scotland 🏠
- 2. Increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for 400,000 children in quarter of a million households 🧒
- 3. Extend free school meals to all primary and secondary pupils in Scotland 🍎
- 4. Double the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) from £30 to £60 for 16-19 year olds in school and college 📚
- 5. Introduce universal access to sports facilities for all children and young people under 18 ⚽️
