Brown launches broadside at SNP tax policy

The former prime minister launched an attack on the SNP’s tax policies under independence as he joined Alistair Darling at a Better Together rally aimed at postal voters.

Speaking at the event in Dundee, Mr Brown told the audience that while the nationalists “dine out” on ideas of equality, they have “no plans to raise funds that would come from a fairer taxation system”.

“They dine out on Scottish ideas of equality – they talk as if they actually believe it,” he said.

“But when you look at the actual policies of the SNP, there is not one measure in their document that suggests there would be a higher rate of income tax for those at the very top, or a millionaire’s tax at the top of council tax, or a mansion tax at the top of stamp duty, or even the bankers’ bonus tax that is proposed for the UK.

“They have no way of raising the money to pay for all the expensive promises they have made.”

Mr Brown said SNP proposals to cut corporation tax would benefit large companies, including energy firms. “The biggest beneficiaries of the SNP’s tax policy are the shareholders and directors of the privatised energy companies in Scotland,” he said.

“When you look at the Scottish National Party policies, inequality and poverty will survive until doomsday if Alex Salmond is all that confronts it.”

The former prime minister delivered his rallying call for 
the union despite being 
heckled by a member of the audience.

The man, who was reported to have given a false name to gain entry to the event at Dundee’s Caird Hall, shouted “rubbish” and “you’re an absolute disgrace” before he was removed from the meeting midway through Mr Brown’s address.