A Tory MSP has claimed Scots could be in line for lower taxes than their English counterparts if the UK leaves the EU.
In a counter attack to George Osborne’s threat to raise income tax after a Brexit vote, Ross Thomson said leaving the EU would bolster the case for Holyrood to undercut Westminster on taxation.
Mr Thomson, one of a small handful of pro-Brexit MSPs, also took a swipe at the chancellor for standing shoulder to shoulder with the “very person who was driving the car when Labour crashed the economy”.
The North East MSP claimed Scotland could look at cutting income tax from the money it would save from not having to send cash to the EU.
Mr Thomson said: “Being a Scottish Conservative it has always been my ambition that Scotland is a lower tax country.
“As Ruth Davidson has said we do not want to have a sign at the border saying we have high taxes, I do not want to see that happen, I want lower taxes.
“I think the money we send to Brussels could be used to fund lower taxes in Scotland. If we vote to leave Holyrood will continue to see more powers on fishing, farming and the environment and in other areas.
“I think we would have great scope to do things differently in the Scottish Parliament.”
Earlier, Mr Osborne threatened to put 2p on the basic rate of income and slash spending to plug a potential £30billion plus hole in the budget that would emerge from Brexit.
He joined forces with his former rival Alistair Darling, the erstwhile Labour Chancellor, to outline their warning, which they say is based on findings from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank.
Mr Thomson said: “I do not agree with the analysis that has come from Osborne and Darling. As much as I think George Osborne has done a terrific job with the economy, he has chosen to stand side-by-side with Alistair Darling – the very person who he said could not be trusted on the economy, the very person who was driving the car when Labour crashed the economy.
“Given some of the strong polling for Leave, I am not surprised everything including the kitchen sink is now being thrown by Remain.
“More big companies will be made to say things and it will be more doom and gloom.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who controls Scotland’s purse strings, refused to be drawn on whether or not she would implement Mr Osborne’s post-Brexit tax plans.
Her chief spokesman dismissed it as “internal wrangling” among Tories.
