Gilruth opens door to new taxes on wealthy Scots – Daily Business

Jenny Gilruth: fairness (pic: DB Media Services)

A levy on private jets and a “mansion” tax on large homes aim to usher in higher taxation on Scotland’s wealthiest individuals.

Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth will tell parliament today that work is under way to introduce the new taxes to support public services and tackle the cost of living.

Ms Gilruth wants the private jet tax introduced from 2028 and two new council tax bands for homes worth more than £1 million.

She said: “People across Scotland are feeling the strain of the cost-of-living crisis and our approach to tax must continue to be based on fairness – asking those with the broadest shoulders to contribute more while protecting the majority of people,” she said.

Imposing a private jet tax would require further powers from the UK Government to address “ghost flights” – jets with no, or very few, passengers which are exempt from air departure tax and beyond powers of devolution.

Her plans are backed by Roz Foyer, General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, who issued a briefing to all MSPs pointing out that five families in Scotland alone hold more wealth than a quarter of the population.

Analysis released by the STUC last month showed that the wealth of Scotland’s ten richest people was estimated at more than £23 billion – nine times the amount it was in 1999 and exceeding the Scottish Government’s projected income tax revenues of £21.5bn for the whole of 2026/27.

The union body estimates that a 2% tax on Scotland’s ten richest people alone could raise almost £500 million a year, potentially funding more than 11,600 teachers, 12,900 nurses, 13,500 firefighters, or 17,000 home care workers.

Ms Foyer said: “The case for better wealth taxation in Scotland has become irrefutable. For too long, wealth, assets and resources have been concentrated in the hands of a select few, while public services have been starved of vital funding.

“Since the reconvening of the Scottish Parliament, STUC research has shown that the wealth of Scotland’s richest individuals has grown by an extraordinary 375%, outstripping workers’ wages sixfold.

“It is welcome that the Scottish Government is exploring the idea of wealth taxes, but this cannot be mere political window dressing. Actions speak louder than words and, with a £4.7 billion gap in the public finances looming, we need concrete steps to redistribute wealth across the country.

“Politicians must seize the initiative and back the growing calls for wealth taxes in Scotland. That must start with a full revaluation of land and property.”

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