SALMOND MAKES COUNCIL TAX COMMITMENT

For immediate use: Thursday 14th October 2010

Attn: NEWSDESK
         CONFERENCE / POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS
STURGEON CONFIRMS SNP TO OFFER TWO YEAR TAX FREEZE

Alex Salmond today made a commitment that the SNP will continue with the council tax freeze as he opened the party’s annual conference in Perth.

Making a promise to protect family incomes and setting council tax as one of the defining issues of the Holyrood campaign the SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland said:

“Our Labour and Liberal opponents want to hike the council tax despite the pressure on family budgets, the rise in Westminster taxes and despite pay restraints.

We say protect family incomes.”

Confirming that the SNP will propose a two year freeze SNP Depute Leader and Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added:

"The last few years have been tough and the next few will be tougher still.

"Our action to freeze the council tax for the last three years has given real help to families, the low paid and pensioners at a time when family budgets have been squeezed.

"Labour say it's time to end the freeze. To put council tax up again. I suppose we shouldn't be surprised. The last time they had their hands on the levers of power in Scotland, they put it up by 60%. Putting up council tax is what they do.

"Well we say different. And we will do differently.

"We say protect family incomes. And we mean it.

"The budget we will present to parliament in the next few weeks will make available the money to freeze the council tax next year.

"But we will go further than that. Our manifesto for the election next year will also include the commitment to put the resources in place to freeze the council tax the year after as well.

"We will act to freeze the council tax for the next two years.

"That is our pledge to the people of Scotland.

"That is our pledge. Clear and firm."

In a pre-recorded message, broadcast as he returns from the handover of the Commonwealth Games to Scotland in Delhi the First Minister looks ahead to the next steps in Scotland’s journey, the powers we need to grow our economy, to protect our society and the importance of Scotland coming together as a nation to make Scotland better.

Launching the party’s 2011 campaign and inviting millions of Scots to be part of better Alex Salmond said:

“Four years ago, here in Perth, we launched the successful campaign that led to our historic victory in the 2007 Scottish Election.  Therefore this is the right place to launch our election campaign once again.

"A campaign that this week will see millions of Scots invited to join us in making our nation better. And friends, that is only the start. Today, we are raising the bar. Today, our campaign for victory begins.

"And victory next May is more important than ever. The SNP is the only political party offering a solution to the problems facing our nation. It is only through independence and greater financial responsibility, that we will be able to protect the very fabric of our society.

"Friends, huge cuts are coming, and independence cannot magic them away. However, it will allow us to create the economic growth and increased revenue that will reduce the size of the problem perhaps, by half.

"Then we can protect more of things that really matter.

"The campaign for more financial and economic responsibility in Scotland is supported by Scots from all walks of life – in businesses big and small, in academia and the trade unions. But it is supported by no other party.

"That means they – Labour, Liberal and Tory – the Westminster parties - are part of the problem. Scotland is faced with Westminster cuts and the Westminster parties refuse to concede the power to make Scotland better.

"Friends, we have the ideas, and the experience, and a record in government we can be proud of and one we can build on.

"In our first term we worked hard to make life better for families and communities across our nation. And despite huge challenges progress has been made and is being made for families across Scotland.

"Waiting times are at a record low in the National Health Service.

"There are 1000 extra police on our streets and so crime has fallen to a 30 year low.

"Exam results are at a record high and primary class sizes at a record low.

"There are tens of thousands of new Apprentices.

"And the Council Tax is frozen again this year to protect people's incomes. This will be a defining issue of the election, our Labour and Liberal opponents want to hike the council tax despite the pressure on family budgets, the rise in Westminster taxes and despite pay restraints.

"We say protect family incomes.

"There is much more to do. Together, as a nation, we can and must make Scotland better.

"Over these next few months the SNP will be presenting our vision and our ideas to people across Scotland. And here, today, this is the first step – the start of this new phase in Scotland's journey.

"We can work together – people and politicians - to identify the shared priorities for our nation.

"Together we can make Scotland a better place to live, work, and bring up a family.

"United as a nation - Scots from all walks of life, all backgrounds – we will be stronger. United in our ambition and our belief that better days are to come.

"The future is what we  make it – so lets work together and set Scotland on the right path.  Because together we can – we will - make Scotland better. So be part of it – be part of better."

ENDS