Wealthy should be taxed more to help pay for health and social care, says Kirk moderator

The Rt Rev Rosemary Frew said costs are rising and more pressure is being put on services such as CrossReach, the Kirk's social care arm.

"The Bible says from those to whom much has been given, much will be demanded," she told The Scotsman. "And I think that's true whether it's your money, or your time, or your talent."

The Kirk is one of the country’s largest social care providers, running services in some 70 locations and employing around 1,600 staff through CrossReach.

However, a report at this year’s General Assembly expressed “deep frustration” about the worsening position of social care in Scotland and the lack of progress on longer-term reform.

It said the National Insurance hike implemented by the UK Labour government had also added an additional £1.2 million to the operating costs of CrossReach.

The report warned “reduction in service, longer waiting lists, having to decline some of the most complex clients being referred because of the high level of support needed or restructures are all under consideration”.

Ms Frew said CrossReach does "the most incredible work", adding: "Every service provider, whether it's the Church of Scotland or a local authority or private, will be saying the same thing.

"We need that money to provide these services. We've got waiting lists, we've got bottlenecks. It's tough, but CrossReach, I think, is doing an amazing job despite all that."

Asked if she supported more taxes for the wealthier in society, she said: "Personally I would. Absolutely, personally I would.

“I'm very aware that costs are rising all the time, and especially in the health service and social care, need just seems to be rising as well as people live longer, and all of that costs money. And we all want it, we all want the best. But between waiting lists and lack of provision, it becomes harder and harder."

The Kirk was previously one of more than 50 organisations and individuals, including charities and trade unions, to sign up to the new campaign group Tax Justice Scotland.

This called on Scotland’s political leaders to take “bold action”, including taxing wealth “more fairly”. It also suggested an “immediate, nationwide property revaluation” be carried out as the “first step toward abolishing the unjust council tax”.

At the time, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, a Kirk member, accused it of signing up to a political agenda “that would make Jeremy Corbyn blush”.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said its decisions on tax “have created a fair and progressive tax system in Scotland”.

She added: “This has raised revenue that has enabled us to deliver higher investment in the NHS and policies like free tuition not available anywhere else in the UK, while ensuring the majority of taxpayers pay less income tax than elsewhere in the UK.

“Tax policy for 2026/27 will be announced at the Scottish Budget on 13 January 2026.”