'Devolving tax would aid Scottish unity'

Published Wednesday, 03 October 2012
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Sammy Wilson has said devolving corporation tax to Northern Ireland would help the case against Scottish independence.

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Mr Wilson made the claim as he was discussing future issues the assembly budget will need to deal with in an environment of continued austerity as well as the pressure for welfare and pension reform and to abolish air passenger duty.

He said that Stormont Ministers should prepare for another four years of difficult decisions.

Many politicians in the region believe introducing corporation tax would help deal with the gradual reduction of the block grant from Westminster.

Speaking to UTV, Mr Wilson said that he also believes far from encouraging Scottish independence, it could help the case for Scottish unity.

He agreed to the scenario that Scotland would demand devolved corporation tax if it was granted to Northern Ireland.

"That's right and I think that must be one of the big focuses I would actually say to the prime Minister you can turn it around," he said.

"Alex Salmond has made the argument that Westminster wants to hold on to everything, they don't want to give the Scots their freedoms on these things, the Prime Minister can say 'No, that's not the case. Where a devolved authority makes a good case, we will give that issue to that authority, so you don't need independence'.

"Northern Ireland came and made a good argument to re-balance their economy and needed the devolution of corporation tax.

"They came, they gave a strong argument and we (Westminster) gave corporation tax powers to the devolved assembly. If Scotland makes a good argument they can have things devolved."

The Finance Minister says the final decision on the tax must be taken this autumn.

© UTV News
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1 Comments
jack in Scotland wrote (231 days ago):
As a Scot all I can say is good luck with that idea!!!
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