THE Scottish Greens have announced their income tax policy with a big tax rise for the highest earners.

The Greens said that everyone earning below £26,500 would be taxed less and those on highest incomes paying more.

The party said it would raise and extra £331m a year for public services compared to the plan announced by the SNP earlier this month.

The plan involves a reduction in the lower rate and an increase in the higher rate and the top rate.

Instead of the current rates of 20%, for earnings between the personal allowance of £11,500 and £43,000, 40% for above £43,000and 45% for above £150,000 new bands and thresholds would be introduced.

It means earnings up to the personal allowance remain free of tax, then a rate of 18% up to £19,000 and 22% up to £43,000. Earnings above £43,000 would be taxed at 43% and above £150,000 at 60%.

The top rate is a big departure from the SNP policy of keeping the rate at 45% after warning it could lose revenue if just 1300 people affected moved their tax liabilities from Scotland.

Patrick Harvie, Green candidate in Glasgow, said those earning more should expect to pay more.

He said: “People on generous salaries, such as MSPs, deserve to pay a fairer share to protect and improve the public services we all rely on. Someone earning less than the average and struggling with the cost of living deserves to keep more of what they earn.”

He said that someone earning the median salary, £27,710 would pay £24 a year more in tax, £2 a month, while an MSP, earning £60,685, could expect to pay £938 a year more.

He said the SNP plan was a missed opportunity for a fairer system of tax to raise much need revenue.

He added: “Public services such as schools and social care and community facilities have been hit hard by cuts from the SNP government on top of 8 years of a regressive council tax freeze.

“Despite arguing for control over income tax, the SNP have failed to seize the opportunity to create a more progressive system to tackle inequality.”