THE Scottish government must focus on taxing wealth “to help deliver a fairer, greener, more prosperous country,” campaigners have told the First Minister.

Fresh from an election which it argues “largely side-stepped the reality of Scotland’s public finance challenge” — not least a deficit forecast to balloon to almost £5 billion by 2030 — Tax Justice Scotland has written to John Swinney and all Holyrood leaders urging them to back “fair tax reforms.”

Head of Oxfam Scotland and Tax Justice Scotland member Jamie Livingstone said: “Scotland needs a post-election reality check: if we want a fairer and greener country, we need to invest in it.

“Standing still isn’t neutral: it means pressures on public services will mount, and unfairness remains baked into the system. 

“But a different choice is possible: particularly if we choose to tax wealth more fairly. People want it. Scotland needs it. 

“It’s time for politicians to get on and deliver it.” 

The coalition of over 50 organisations, academics, and think tanks called for early and decisive action to launch a council tax re-valuation while work to replace the “outdated and unfair” levy gets underway.

The campaign also calls on the Scottish government not only to accelerate plans to introduce a private jet tax by a year to 2027, but to set it “at a punishingly high rate,” to help raise cash for ailing public services and tackle poverty.

Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland director and Tax Justice Scotland member Lisa Hough-Stewart said: “Fair taxes are essential if we are to build a wellbeing economy; one where resources are shared more fairly, communities are properly supported, and the transition to a low-carbon economy is both fast and fair. 

“The new Scottish Parliament has a choice: keep mindlessly rearranging the furniture or start rebuilding the house on fairer financial foundations.” 

A Scottish government spokesperson said it is “working with local government to build cross-party agreement on the future of council tax in Scotland” and its new mansion tax would “improve fairness at the top end of the system.”

“In line with the principle that higher rates of tax should be paid by those who choose to travel on private jets, which produce significantly more emissions per head than commercial flights, the Scottish government will bring forward a Private Jet Tax from 1 April 2028,” they added.