The Advertiser has invited the General Election candidates standing to represent Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber to share their views on key topics to the area.

In our latest contribution, Reform candidate Melanie Hurst writes about the economy.

I want fairer taxation for all and an even playing field for small and medium businesses.

A Reform government will change the current ‘voluntary’ arrangement with the Bank of England to deliver our proposed economy boosting changes to the tax system.

Reform will raise the income tax start point to £20,000 a year - taking seven million people out of paying any income tax - putting almost £1,500 each year back into their pockets.

The higher tax rate will begin at £70,000 a year. Scrapping VAT on energy, abolishing environmental levies and lowering fuel duty by 20p a litre - saving households around £500 per year on average.

Additionally, to substantially boost economic housing activity property transaction taxes will be reduced to 0 per cent for properties below £750,000, 2 per cent from £750,000 up to £1.5m, and 4 per cent on properties over £1.5million.

We will abolish inheritance tax on estates worth up to £2m.

In the first 100 days we will lift the corporation tax minimum profit threshold to £100,000 and reduce the main corporation tax rate by five per cent to 20 per cent, then reducing to 15 per cent by year five.

For sole traders we will abolish the IR35 rule. Lifting the VAT threshold to £150,000 will see more businesses freed from the restraints of the current system, putting more money back into the economy, increasing productivity and generating more jobs.

Reform is the only party promising to reduce taxes to stimulate much needed growth and ease the cost of living and housing crises.