ONLY ONE SUPERMARKET IN ARGYLL AND BUTE WILL BE TAXED - says Russell

SNP Prospective Candidate for Argyll & Bute Michael Russell MSP has revealed that only one supermarket in the whole of the constituency will be affected by the so called “Supermarket Tax”. But if the tax is struck out of the Scottish Budget by the Opposition parties , then every council tax payer in the area may have to fork out instead.

Commenting on the announcement that Labour, Tories and the Lib Dems had joined forces to oppose the tax, Mr Russell said:

“This modest proposal is designed to raise additional revenue at a difficult time - revenue that will be used , amongst other things, to help small business and invest in town centres. Indeed so modest is the proposal that only one supermarket in this whole constituency will be affected. Tescos in Oban will pay £17,500 more than it does now - apart from that no other local store will be touched. That £17,500 will make virtually no difference to its high level of profit.

Yet the Opposition parties , driven not by principal but merely by anti-SNP posturing, are now seriously suggesting that this is too much and that instead other measures should be taken including the possible raising of council tax for every council tax payer including pensioners and single parents !

The Liberals in particular seem to have taken leave of their senses. Instead of seeking fairness in taxation, they are determined to make those with least pay most. Just weeks ago the Liberals were calling for more money for town centres and for small businesses and opposing what they called “excess profits” by supermarket groups. Now they are intending to vote against the very things they support !

I would appeal to the Opposition Parties to think again. Otherwise here in Argyll Tesco will be laughing all the way to the bank whilst local citizens dig ever deeper to pay their council tax - a tax which the SNP has worked hard to freeze for the past four years.