Nicola Sturgeon branded ‘most left-wing First Minister ever’ as she tries to woo business

The accusation came after Ms Sturgeon told an audience of around 70 business figures at Scottish and Southern Energy in Glasgow, that growth and success were key to tackling inequality. 

She said that business has nothing to fear from her government and added: “I am a social democrat. “I believe in pursuing greater equality and tackling social justice. 

“You can’t do that unless you have got a strong economy, unless you have got a vibrant business base earning the wealth that makes that possible.  

“Your success underpins the prosperity and wellbeing of every community in Scotland. It is vital for me and my Government to work closely with you to help you succeed, and I intend to do that. My government will be enthusiastic in our support for business.”

But the Scottish Tories said Ms Sturgeon, who has been First Minister for a fortnight, has already revealed her true face in the policies which she has so far unveiled, such as the Stamp Duty replacement, the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, plans to raise the top rate of income tax to 50 pence for the highest earners, and scrapping of business rate exemptions for working estates.

Ms Sturgeon, however, insisted that her plans for radical land reform were not based on “class warfare”. She had earlier said in a Financial Times interview that land reform is “unfinished business” in Scotland, but insisted that the responsible landowners should be “valued and respected” for the contribution they make.

Business rates exemptions for shooting and deer-stalking estates, brought in by the Conservatives in 1994, will be abolished.However Ms Sturgeon said the move would raise funds to promote community land ownership.

She promised a “radical programme” of reform so Scotland’s land can be “an asset that benefits the many, not the few”. The plans are among 12 bills to be brought before the Scottish Parliament in the coming year, and include the establishment of a Scottish Land Reform Commission and steps to make information on who owns land and its value more readily available.

The Scottish Tories’ Enterprise spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “We predicted before Nicola Sturgeon came in that she would be Scotland’s most left-wing First Minister. She hasn’t been in the job two weeks and she’s proven us right.

“The score so far is a home-buyers’ tax on aspiration, a proposed income tax hike, and a ridiculous land tax. Whatever the warm words to business, that adds up to a socialist agenda which sets a course back to the 1970s.

“What we’re getting is a left-wing agenda which the people of Scotland didn’t vote for and yet more moaning about the powers she doesn’t have.”