YOUR CAMPAIGN PACK

TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE STREETS

ABOUT THE STOP THE TAX CREDIT CUT CAMPAIGN

ACTIVIST BRIEFING

The Aim of the Stop the Tax Credit Cut campaign is to call on the Tories to stop their
planned changes to tax credits. These changes will leave almost 350,000 Scottish
families 1,300 a year worse off on average.

Scottish Labours plan is to restore the money lost through tax credit cuts for working
families.

The campaign is a great way to engage new members and voters in your communities
and offers an opportunity to use a variety of communication channels including
doorstep, print, digital and social media.
Campaign Up-date New Campaign Legacy Section Added
Thank you to everyone who came out and joined the fight against tax credit cuts on
our day of action on Saturday the 14th of November. We had over 40 street stalls
across Scotland and had hundreds of conversations with voters about our campaign.
To ensure that we keep-up the fight we are encouraging local parties to take street
stalls to different locations such as supermarkets and retail parks over the coming
weeks to speak to families that are affected by these plans.
More campaign materials are available to order, please get in touch with me to
request more leaflets, petitions and posters and please remember to post photos on
social media with the #StopTheTaxCreditCuts.
We have also designed a model direct mail that local parties can use to engage with
voters who are likely to be affected by the planned tax credit cut. More details are
included in this pack.
Use this briefing note on the opposite page and Q&A to help your activists understand
key messages and help them answer any questions on the doorstep or at a street
stall.

Politics in Scotland is changing. The debate now isnt about pretending we cant
change things, but instead talking about what we can do with the new powers coming
to our Scottish Parliament.
So if George Osborne does not scrap his plan to cut tax credits, we will use the new
powers heading to Holyrood to protect working families.
Scottish Labour will restore the money families lose from tax credit cuts.
Labour offers an alternative to Tory Austerity
Nearly 350,000 Scottish families rely on the money from tax credits.
The average family will be more than 100 a month worse off as a result of these
changes.
70% of the cost of the Tory cuts will come from the pockets of working mothers.
The SNP say we cant afford to do things differently from the Tories, but we can.
For example, the SNP plan to cut the tax paid on airline tickets through Air
Passenger Duty, a policy which will eventually cost 250 million a year.
But a tax cut for those who can already afford to shop for airline tickets cannot be
our priority when families cannot afford the weekly shop.
So we would instead use that money to help restore the money lost from tax credit
cuts and we wouldnt implement George Osbornes tax cut for higher earners those paying the higher rate of income tax.
Under Labours plan no one will pay more in tax than they do today. By making
different choices from the SNP and the Tories on tax, hundreds of thousands of
Scottish families will be better off.
Do we have the powers?
Yes. Both the Scottish and UK Governments now agree that the new powers coming
to Holyrood can be used to top-up tax credits. We will use Scotlands new powers to
make different decisions from the Tories austerity and the SNPs complacency.
How will it be paid for?
We know this is affordable because weve costed it at its most expensive, and we
know any concessions from the Chancellor will only reduce that cost.
The cost of reversing the Tories cuts to tax credits in Scotland will be 440m annually
at the end of the next Parliament, according to the Treasurys own figures.
The SNP plan to halve then remove Air Passenger Duty will cost 250m. Holyrood will

CAMPAIGN LEGACY
get powers over income tax in 2017. This allows us to make a different decision from
the Tories plan to cut taxes for higher earners, by extending the threshold to 50,000,
which will reduce revenues by 440m in Scotland.

In this section of the pack we outline how you can continue the campaign in your area
and the materials available to you for doorstep campaigning, street campaigning,
online and direct mail.

Our commitment is funded against the Tories tax credit cuts before the House of
Lords voted for a 3 year delay. So whatever the Tories decide, our plan more than fully
funds the total required to restore the money lost to working families in Scotland.

Petition
Included in this pack is a petition that can be used on street stalls to collect signatures
of support for the campaign. We are encouraging local teams to try out new locations
for street stalls including outside supermarkets and retail parks and speak directly to
voters who are likely to be impacted by these plans.

What about the SNP?

We have a government in Scotland which looks at a problem and sees only the
politics. What we need is a government that looks at a problem and sees the
possibilities.

Leaflets
We also have a stock of campaign leaflets that can be requested from lorna_
finlayson@labour.org.uk or ordered through the Labour Party online shop.

The SNP have been a shambles on tax credits since Kezia Dugdale pledged to restore
the money lost to Scottish families in her conference speech. First the SNP said it
couldnt be done, before u-turning to admit that the Scottish Parliament would have
the powers. At First Ministers Questions Nicola Sturgeon refused three times to back
Labours plans and other SNP Ministers have objected to spending money at all
The SNP have also opposed Scottish Labours plan to ask those lucky enough to earn
over 150,000 a year to pay a 50p rate of tax joining with the Tories in voting against
Labour proposals time after time in the Scottish Parliament.
Will we oppose the cuts across the UK?
We want George Osborne to scrap his plan altogether. If this does not happen then
the next UK Labour Government will reverse them.
Direct Mail Campaign
To keep-up the fight and continue to put pressure on the Tories and the SNP we
have created a model direct mail campaign that local parties can use to deliver the
key messages of the campaign directly to the homes of voters who are likely to
be affected by these plans. To request your model direct mail template and your
suggested mailing list please contact lorna_finlayson@labour.org.uk
Campaigning on Social Media
Campaigning online allows you to reach large numbers of people, engaging people
in your communities and encouraging them to share your campaign with friends
and family. #StopTheTaxCreditCut campaign graphics are available for you to use,
download them here.
These will enhance your posts and help you increase your engagement.
All your online activity should point people directly to our online petition labour.org.
uk/taxcredits