The Tax Advisory Group, set up by the Scottish Government to advise on tax policy, has been disbanded.
The group was created three years ago to draw on the collective expertise of academics, economists, and prominent figures from business and the third sector. It formed part of Holyrood’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy and counted among its members the Institute for Fiscal Studies economist Stuart Adam and Fraser of Allander Institute director Mairi Spowage.
When it launched, the plan was to hold four meetings a year “for the remainder of the Parliamentary term” following the 2024/25 Budget. The group’s most recent meeting took place in February, but minutes published this week revealed it was the last. Former Finance Secretary Shona Robison noted at the gathering that it would be the final TAG meeting.
The Scottish Conservatives described the decision as “deeply worrying.” Finance spokesman Craig Hoy said: “John Swinney was clearly ignoring the warnings from business leaders and economists that continually hiking taxes kills growth, but now his government have stopped listening to them altogether. This is a deeply worrying sign for hard-pressed Scots, who are already being clobbered by sky-high SNP taxes.”
