Alan Simpson: Tourist tax should benefit visitors and not just plug budget gaps

GEORGE Harrison was universally known as the quiet Beatle, although he could throw a good strop with the best of them.

His song-writing talents were also under-rated, with the spotlight forever being shone on John Lennon and Paul McCartney and their prodigious musical output.

One song that Harrison may not look back on fondly, though, is his 1966 offering Taxman which is basically a rant at HMRC set to music.

With lines like “If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat and if you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet”, it is fair to say he had issues with the amount that HMRC felt he had to stump up.

But, hopefully, no-one at the Scottish Government feels the need to dig out their dusty old copy of the album Revolver any time soon as the song may give them some ideas.

Tax has always been a contentious issue, of course, as every taxpayer feels they pay too much, regardless at what........

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