CONFERENCE UPDATE: Kevin backs Tavish Scott call for Scottish Government to cut income tax by 2p.

5.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 14th Sep 2008

Tavish Scott and Kevin Lang show how a two pence cut in income tax would save the average household over £300 a year.

Local Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Kevin Lang has backed new Scottish Leader Tavish Scott who used his conference speech in Bournemouth to call on the Scottish Government to cut income tax by 2p.

The Scottish Parliament has the power to vary income by up to 3p, as approved in the Scottish referendum in 1997. Cutting income tax by two pence would save the average family more than £300 a year.

Speaking at the conference, Tavish Scott said,

"We have to say what can be done to put money back into peoples' pockets. We should use the Scottish Parliament's power to cut income tax by two pence in the pound, saving the average Scot more than three hundred pounds a year and putting money back in the pockets of people who need it most.

"That is my practical ambition. Where others talk tax up I want to bring tax down.

"The Scottish Government's budget comes out in a few days time. But that Budget cannot be "business as usual". It has to cut the cost of living. It has to put families first."

Local Lib Dem parliamentary candidate, Kevin Lang said,

"Too many families are struggling with the rising cost of living under this UK Labour Government and SNP Scottish Government. We need to put more money back into the pockets are hard working families in Edinburgh North & Leith and across Scotland, to help them with increased fuel costs and higher food prices.

"Our new Scottish leader has laid down a challenge for the SNP Scottish Government to bring forward a budget to the Scottish Parliament that cuts income tax by two pence, saving the average family over £300 a year."