Scotland does indeed have tax raising powers The Scotland Act 2012 gave the Scottish Parliament the power to set a different rate of Income Tax in Scotland** , known as the Scottish Rate of Income Tax . It is a slightly higher rate than England as the SNP is a largely Democratic Socialist Party. [waits while US members load their automatic shooters and start looking for Reds under their tartan doonas] and spends its money on social programs and infrastructure rather than the English Tory model of looking after rich mates.
The Scottish National Party is the largest party in the Scottish Parliament and also elects 59 MP’s to Westminster, mostly SNP. Scotland has not voted Tory for more than 60 years, the last time was in 1959. Currently the Tories are trying to cut two seats from Scotland’s representation…which is also not helping their popularity.
That (along with Brexit and the Boris Effect) explains the surge for Independence and rejoining the EU.
It will happen and within the next 10 years I think. The EU have already signalled a welcome.
Currently the SNP (Scottish Parliament) have 34 women, Labour have 10, the Conservatives have eight, the Scottish Greens have five and the Lib Dems have one female MSP. The SNP has approximately half of their sitting members female.
Their charismatic and brave leader (a woman) has just resigned as she has had enough of the daily battles of politics, a hostile English neighbour, and as a final touch the Tory Government in England overturned (vetoed) a Scottish Act of Parliament regarding the recognition and availability of treatment for the Scottish Trans population. An act of pure bastardry that will bite them fair in their homophobic arses.
aaaaaand breathe! 