Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer has said his party would “rig the economy in favour of ordinary people” by ensuring the super-rich pay their “fair” share of tax.
Speaking at a campaign event at Loch Lomond on Wednesday, Mr Greer doubled down on his comment during the STV election debate on Tuesday that Scotland needs fewer super-rich people like Lord Malcolm Offord.
The comment came in response to the Reform UK Scotland leader’s admission during the debate that he owns six houses, six boats and five cars.
Speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday, Mr Greer said the “hoarding” of wealth by the super-rich contributes to Scotland’s housing crisis and undermines public services.
Malcolm Offord doesn't need six homes. He has got those six homes as a result of the kind of economy we've got that's rigged in favour of the super-rich
“We stand against the greed of people like Malcolm Offord,” he said.
“Scotland is in a housing crisis right now and he owns six homes. Nobody needs to own six homes.
“There are three times as many second homes and holiday homes in Scotland as there are homeless children. This is a housing crisis that we can solve.
“But when you have super-rich individuals like Malcolm Offord and Nigel Farage just trying to hoard as much of this country’s wealth as they can, we cannot solve these problems.”
He also said there is nothing “fair” about the fact the top 2% of the wealthiest people in Scotland have more wealth than half the population combined.
“They didn’t actually earn that, they have taken the proceeds of other people’s work,” he said.
“Malcolm Offord doesn’t need six homes. He has got those six homes as a result of the kind of economy we’ve got that’s rigged in favour of the super-rich.
“The Greens want to rig the economy in favour of ordinary people.”
He said his party would tax the super-rich “fairly” to pay for things like recruiting more teachers, fixing the care system, providing better childcare and providing free bus travel for everybody.
He added: “We think it’s super-rich individuals like Malcolm Offord who instead of bragging about how much they’ve got should be paying fairly into the pot to provide those kind of services.”
Asked how many homes, cars and boats he owns, Mr Greer said: “I’ve just got the one flat. I don’t have a car and I certainly don’t have any boats.
“When I want to get on the water, I will do it like I have done today, just a bit of wild swimming.”
Mr Greer was also asked about a recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) which found that none of Scotland’s six major parties are facing up to the “fiscal reality” awaiting the next Scottish Government.
Mr Greer insisted his party has been “honest” about the cost of its spending plans and said it has set out “detailed taxation plans” to fund them.
These include, he said, taxing vacant and derelict land, and a higher rate of tax “on the likes of Amazon”, which he said is currently “crushing” Scotland’s high streets.
He also said his party would curtail areas of public spending that “aren’t working for us” – including, he said, “nonsense” standardised testing in schools, which he said costs the taxpayer £6 million each year.
In response, Reform UK Scotland candidate Thomas Kerr called on Mr Greer to “grow up”.
He said: “If the Greens were even remotely serious about tackling Scotland’s housing crisis they’d make it easier to build homes rather indulging in childish gimmicks.
“Reform UK have been clear. We want Scotland to be the wealthiest nation in the UK. That means more Malcolm Offords and less Ross Greers.”