SNP’s Jenny Gilruth and Labour’s Michael Marra.
by Bill Heaney
Scottish Labour has urged the SNP to back its calls for a review of business rates amid growing concerns for jobs and communities.
Scottish Labour will today move an amendment calling for an “immediate and comprehensive” review of business rates in Scotland.
The motion calls for the government to consider extending ‘Fresh Start’ relief, following a campaign by the Courier, the P&J, and the Sunday Post.
Businesses have been sounding the alarm about looming hikes to business rates, and John Swinney has pledged to act.
The motion also calls for cross-party talks on Council Tax reform – something the SNP has been promising since its 2007 election campaign.
Scottish Labour Finance spokesperson Michael Marra said: “Scotland’s complex and arbitrary business rates system is no longer fit for purpose.
“Scottish Labour has been clear that we need to overhaul business rates and build a system that incentivises growth, creates jobs, and helps towns and cities thrive.
“John Swinney has promised action, and today he has a chance to show he means it by backing Scottish Labour’s motion and voting for the change our high streets and businesses need.
“Five more years of economic failure and financial mismanagement with the SNP isn’t good enough.
“The SNP needs to get to grips with the public finances, deliver a business rates system that unlocks growth, and finally deliver on its decades-old pledge to reform Council Tax.”
Parliament will vote on the following amendment by Scottish Labour:
Michael Marra. Wealth Taxation for Public Services
As an amendment to motion S7M-00249 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Wealth Taxation for Public Services), insert at end “; notes that the Scottish Government’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, published in June 2025, projected a funding gap of over £4.7 billion by 2029-30; considers that developing a sustainable plan to close this gap is essential to Scotland’s public services and that it is incumbent on all parties in the Parliament to work towards this goal; believes that, to this end, the Scottish Government should take a strategic approach across all devolved taxation in Scotland to include an immediate and comprehensive review of business rates, including consideration of measures such as widening the scope of Fresh Start relief to include businesses that occupy an empty unit within six months of the unit becoming vacant, and further believes that the Scottish Government should convene cross-party talks on council tax reform immediately.
Top of page picture: Small businesses along the seafront at Helensburgh.