John Swinney was today urged to rein in soaring welfare spending so that he can cut “crippling” tax bills for hard-working Scots.
At First Minister’s Questions, Russell Findlay described Scotland’s benefits bill, which is on course to reach £10 billion per year, as “unsustainable”, and the reason why the SNP leader keeps hiking taxes on households and businesses.
The Scottish Conservative leader – who criticised John Swinney for repeating misleading and debunked claims on tax – called on the SNP government to finally give taxpayers a break in next week’s budget.
He added that the Scottish Conservatives believe workers should keep more of their own money to help fuel the economic growth needed for Scotland to prosper.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Taxes are too high in Scotland.
“Scots have been forced to pay an extra £1.7 billion due to SNP income tax rises, yet they see a wasteful government utterly incapable of fixing public services that only get worse.
“Struggling workers, families and businesses deserve a break, so in next week’s budget we’re calling on John Swinney to reduce the crippling financial burden by cutting income tax.
“John Swinney thinks that he can take more and more from workers and businesses, and at the same time spend more and more on benefits.
“The SNP’s annual £7 billion benefits bill is on course to reach £10 billion. State benefits are a vital safety net for those in need but this is unaffordable, unfair and unsustainable.
“The only way John Swinney can pay for this is by hiking taxes even more.
“But there is another way. We believe that workers should keep more of their own money.
“This will help to increase prosperity by growing the economy.
“John Swinney could cut people’s taxes in his budget by tackling the out-of-control benefits bill, but does he have the bravery to do so?”
Notes to editors
Most Scottish workers pay more in income tax compared with what they would pay in the rest of the UK. According to HMRC data median monthly pay in September 2025, halfway through the 2025-26 financial year, was £2,600 – equivalent to £31,200 a year. This is £900 above the threshold at which people start paying more income tax in Scotland. (Scotland’s Labour Market Insights: October 2025, 29 October 2025, link; Scottish Income Tax Fact Sheet 2025-26, 4 December 2025, link).