GRAY FACES COUNCIL TAX CHALLENGE

For immediate use: Thursday 28th October 2010




Attn: NEWSDESKS


POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS



SNP TARGET 100,000 HOUSEHOLDS OVER LABOUR’S CONFERENCE WEEKEND



The SNP will target 100,000 households in seats across Scotland ahead of Labour’s party conference this weekend.


The new leaflet warns of Labour's plans to hike Council Tax ifit wins the 2011 Holyrood elections.

Launching the leaflet today, SNP depute leader Nicola Sturgeon repeated her challenge for Labour to come clean and say by how much Labour plan to raise the Council Tax.

59% of Scots agreed with the SNP in an opinion poll last week that council tax should not increase at a time when families are facing increases in VAT, National Insurance and pay restraint as a result of Labour’s recession and Labour, Lib Dem and Tory spending cuts. Labour have made clear they want councils to increase the council tax.


Launching the leaflet SNP depute leader Nicola Sturgeon MSP said:


“The SNP has set the policy agenda for the coming election and we have clearly heard the priorities of the Scottish public with plans for a council tax freeze to protect family incomes.


"The only thing we know about Labour is they want to put council tax up.


“On council tax, prescription charges, health spending and importantly on the financial situation facing Scotland voters deserve to know what Labour in Scotland intend to do.


“At SNP Conference we set a clear path to the 2011 election, putting forward the priorities we will pursue on behalf of the people of Scotland and inviting people to work with us to make Scotland better.


“If Labour are serious about running for Government it is time they did the same.”


In the message to be delivered this weekend to 100,000 homes across Scotland the SNP state:


“The Council Tax has been frozen in Scotland since 2007. With your Support we can freeze council tax again for another two years.


Inflation and VAT are going up. Salaries are being squeezed. This is no time to put more pressure on family budgets.

And yet, the Labour Party wants to increase your Council Tax. They want you to pay for their mistakes – and pay big. Last time Labour were in government in Scotland Council Tax rose by 60%.


We can’t let this happen again.


Freezing the Council Tax is just one of the SNP’s priorities for the next four years. See what else we want to achieve at bepartofbetter.net.


Together we can protect hard-pressed families and pensioners. Together we can make Scotland better.”


ENDS