Nicola Sturgeon hints third of Scottish taxpayers could face increase ahead of Scottish Budget

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (Jeff J Mitchell - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

THREE out of ten taxpayers in Scotland could be facing a rise in their bills after Thursday’s Scottish Budget, the First Minister has indicated.

Nicola Sturgeon added however her government would seek to “protect those on low and middle incomes”.

But she said there was a need to “protect our vital public services” ahead of Holyrood’s Budget, which is widely expected to include income tax rises for some higher earners.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will unveil the Scottish Government’s tax and spending plans for 2018-19 later on Thursday afternoon.

Ahead of his Budget statement the First Minister said: “I can tell the chamber today that 70% of taxpayers in Scotland – 83% of all adults in Scotland – will pay no more income tax after this Budget than they do now.”