CORPORATION tax figures for the UK and Ireland provide a “mere glimpse into the wealth of an independent Scotland”, the SNP have claimed.
It comes after analysis from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) showed that businesses operating in Scotland pay on average £1405 for every person in the country each year, the highest rate in the UK outside London (on £3673).
Scotland outstripped the south east of England (£1300), the south west (£1067), Yorkshire and the Humber (£1009), Northern Ireland (£779), and Wales (£709).
The SNP have now pointed to further SPICe figures which show that Scotland brought in a total of £7.8 billion in corporation tax in 2024-25, around €9.1bn.
The same figures show that Ireland took in €33bn (£28.2bn) in corporation tax in 2024-25, around 260% higher than Scotland.
SNP MSP and former MEP Alyn Smith said: “The undoubted success of Ireland is a mere glimpse into the wealth of an independent Scotland.
“While Scotland outperforms all parts of the UK outside of London, when we look across the Irish Sea there is a clear example of what a small independent, European and Celtic nation can achieve.
“Broken, Brexit Britain is in terminal decline and Andy Burnham is fast running into that reality, but it does not have to be that way for Scotland.
“Through a fresh start with independence, we can take control of our energy resources and entice businesses to make Scotland their home – that’s how we build a wealthier Scotland anew.
“With the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and North Ireland all committed to an independent future, recognising a more prosperous future away from Westminster, there is a Celtic connection across these islands no Westminster Prime Minister can ignore.”
Ireland has become a major European base for many US companies because it offers a combination of low corporation tax, an English-speaking workforce, and full access to the European Union's single market.
Firms including Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft and Pfizer have all established significant operations there.
Ireland charges a standard corporation tax rate of 12.5%, while the UK’s usual rate is 25%.
