Every household in the country would get a rebate worth hundreds of pounds under Scottish Conservative plans to turn the government’s annual underspend into a taxpayer dividend.
In his party conference speech today, Russell Findlay announced that his party would return any underspend at the end of the financial year to hard-pressed Scots via a ‘Conservative cashback’, rather than it being spent by the Scottish Government.
The underspend last year – a product of the Scottish Government’s legal requirement to balance its budget – would provide enough for a dividend of approximately £200 per council taxpayer.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Today, I can announce that we would turn the Scottish government’s annual underspend into a taxpayer dividend.
“A rebate for every hard-working taxpayer.
“A Conservative cashback to help people with their bills.
“Based on last year’s underspend, this surplus would provide every household in Scotland with an estimated £200 dividend.
“This is taxpayers’ money. It is your money.
“It does not belong to John Swinney.”