Leaders offer to publish tax return papers

Investigations Editor

Monday 23 April 2012

HOLYROOD's four main political leaders have seized on the new-found drive for transparency by supporting the release of politicians' tax returns.

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Paul Hutcheon

Alex Salmond, Johann Lamont, Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie have all said they are relaxed about releasing this once-private information.

Although the leaders did not specify when voters would get to know how much tax they have paid, an important principle appears to have been agreed.

The issue shot up the political agenda amid a row over how much tax Labour's candidate for London mayor Ken Livingstone paid.Nick Clegg, Cameron's Liberal Democrat deputy, has said MPs should be obliged to publish their returns, while Labour leader Ed Miliband also declared he was "perfectly happy" to release his document.However, critics have argued a simple tax return is no substitute for fuller information about an individual's wealth, including assets and whether they are beneficiaries of trusts.Now the craze for openness appears to be heading for Holyrood.A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "The First Minister is relaxed about the idea of politicians publishing tax information, but he has no income other than his parliamentary and ministerial payments which are already in the public domain."He added: "One issue is that overall levels of wealth are arguably of more relevance than annual income ... and in that sense a wealth register would be equally if not more important than an income declaration."Ms Lamont, who was elected as Scottish Labour leader last year, also supports disclosure. Her spokesman said: "In principle, we'd be perfectly happy for candidates to publish their tax returns."Mr Rennie, who leads the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: "Greater transparency in politics is a good thing and I have no problem releasing my tax returns. It wouldn't take the public long to scrutinise mine as I earn only one salary and pay tax on it."A Scottish Tory spokesman said: "Ruth Davidson is relaxed about the principle of publishing tax information. She receives no other income in addition to her MSP salary."

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Leaders offer to publish tax return papers

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