 Nicol Stephen: First conference address as Scottish leader |
The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats has outlined out his ambition to cut business rates further to ensure they are lower than in England. Nicol Stephen's plans were unveiled during his address to the party's national conference in Blackpool.
Earlier this month, the first minister pledged to bring the rates into line with England.
But in his national conference debut as Scottish Lib Dem leader, Mr Stephen said he wanted them even lower.
As well as succeeding Jim Wallace as the Scottish party leader in June, he became deputy first minister and enterprise minister in the Scottish Executive.
"We are working hard to create a better environment for all Scottish business," he said.
"In my campaign to become leader, I made it clear my determination to cut business rates. That's why we decided two weeks ago that we would bring Scottish business rates down into line with England.
 |  I'm glad that the Liberals are siding with the SNP in taking a more positive approach in this area |
"And in time I want to go further still: to make Scotland even more competitive with rates lower than England."
The Scottish National Party's enterprise spokesman, Jim Mather, welcomed Nicol Stephen's announcement.
He said: "While the Labour first minister is spending his time slagging off Scotland's successful business community, I'm glad that the Liberals are siding with the SNP in taking a more positive approach in this area.
"Scotland's businesses need a competitive advantage over our rivals if we are to throw off the economic shackles of low start up rates and low growth.
"Reducing business rates to below English levels would be a positive first step in achieving this aim."
David McLetchie MSP, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, also welcomed the Lib Dem "converts" to business rate cuts.
"Vague aspiration"
He said they had been advocating a reduction in business rates ever since they were first raised by Jack McConnell.
"Scottish businesses have been overcharged almost �840m in the five years since and that injustice needs to end as soon as possible," he said.
"However, Nicol Stephen has yet to tell us when parity with England will be introduced, never mind a lower rate.
"Until he answers this question we should treat his vague aspiration with a very large pinch of salt.
"It should be next April, at the earliest possible time, and not 2007. Perhaps he has not yet been told himself."
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