By Katrine Bussey, Political Editor, Press Association Scotland
The SNP today launched its campaign for next year`s Holyrood elections
with a pledge to freeze the council tax for another two years.
The Scottish Government`s forthcoming budget will include funds to
freeze the charge for a fourth consecutive year.
And delegates at the party's annual conference in Perth were told that
if the Nationalists were re-elected to power next May, they would extend
that for another year.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement at the start
of the party's four-day annual gathering.
The SNP administration has provided councils across Scotland with GBP70
million a year to fund the council tax freeze.
Ms Sturgeon told delegates at the conference: "The budget we will
present to Parliament in the next few weeks will make available the
money to freeze the council tax next year."
She added: "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."
She spoke after a video message from First Minister Alex Salmond - in
Delhi for the Commonwealth Games handover ceremony - was played to the
hall.
The First Minister said council tax would be a "defining issue" in the
election campaign.
He added: "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 restrains.
"We say protect family incomes."
Labour leader Iain Gray recently confirmed his party would allow local
authorities to end the current cap to raise additional revenue.
Today, Ms Sturgeon challenged him to set out how much council tax would
rise by.
She hit out at Labour, saying: "They say council tax should rise. Tell
us by how much. Tell us how much more families and pensioners will have
to pay under Labour."
Ms Sturgeon also contrasted Mr Gray with the SNP leader, telling
delegates that Mr Salmond was "head and shoulders above the opposition".
She added: "In a choice between Alex Salmond and Iain Gray for First
Minister, there can only be one winner.
"So our campaign to re-elect Alex Salmond as Scotland`s First Minister
starts here today as well."
The Nationalists have already pledged that they will focus on Scotland`s
constitutional future in the run up to next May's Holyrood poll.
With Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats united in opposition
to an independence referendum, the SNP Government confirmed last month
that its flagship Referendum Bill would not be put to the parliamentary
vote before May.
And today Ms Sturgeon conceded independence would not "magic away"
Scotland`s problems.
But she argued: "It will give us the powers we need to grow our economy
faster, increase revenue and reduce the need for cuts."
She insisted the SNP was going into the election campaign with
"confidence and belief".
Recent opinion polls have put Labour in front in the contest for the
Scottish Parliament.
However Ms Sturgeon said her party had a "record to be proud of" as she
highlighted reductions in hospital waiting times, reduced business rates
for small firms and more police on the street as some of the SNP`s
achievements in power.
Mr Salmond said: "We have the ideas, 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, real progress, has been made and
is being made for families across Scotland."
He recalled: "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 campaign for
re-election."
end
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