SNP depute leader, and ex-Royal Marine, Keith Brown has told Tory MP Kirstene Hair to apologise after she accused the Scottish Government of not understanding the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces.
In Parliament yesterday the Angus MP attacked the SNP during a question about tax relief for service men and women based in Scotland.
Speaking to defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, Hair said: “As my right honourable friend would agree, we must adequately fund our armed forces to support those who selflessly put their lives on the line for our country, a concept the Scottish Government don’t seem to understand. Can my right honourable friend update the House on the measures the UK Government is taking to mitigate the tax hikes on those brave service personnel?”
Williamson replied: “It is truly shocking to think the SNP decided to put this extra taxation burden on our service personnel, especially when we asked them not to do so. That is why we are proceeding with a review very rapidly and we hope to report to this house in the not too distant future.”
Keith Brown, the SNP’s depute leader, and Scottish Government finance minister, and a former Royal Marine, who fought in the Falklands, tweeted that 36 years ago to the day, his battalion, 45 Commando had started the brutal battle for Two Sisters, a key strategic, Argentinian-held position.
“Kirstene Hair’s comments in the Commons are crass and insensitive,” Brown said. “She should apologise.”
SNP defence spokesman Stewart McDonald said in a tweet: “A bizarre statement - not to mention an outright lie - from Kirstene Hare that the SNP has no respect for those who have served in the armed forces. Particularly tin-eared given we just elected a former Royal Marines Commando - Keith Brown - as our Depute Leader.”
The Scottish Government has insisted that under its plans workers earning up to £33,000 will now pay less in tax due to an increase in the personal allowance.
Launching the review in March, Williamson said that around 8,000 members of the armed forces could be affected by the change after Holyrood brought in new income tax bands.
A Scottish Government spokesman said at the time of Williamson’s announcement that Keith Brown had written to the defence secretary in February with an offer to consider constructive proposals by the UK Government.
“He was clear that any proposals must respect the Scottish Government’s income tax policy, and in particular should not disadvantage those earning under £26,000 who will pay less under our income tax proposals than they would under tax rates applicable in the rest of the UK,” they added.
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