JOHN McDONNELL said today that Scottish Labour has “quite rightfully” refused to raise the higher tax band in line with Westminster.

The shadow chancellor has backed Philip Hammond’s Budget plans to raise the 40p higher income threshold to £50,000 while raising the lower threshold to £12,500, saying it puts more money in people’s pockets.

Labour in government would not reverse the threshold changes but would make the top 5 per cent of earners pay more in tax, undo cuts to corporation tax, and close in on tax evasion and avoidance, he has also said in response to the Budget.