LABOUR IN DISARRAY AS THEY DITCH COUNCIL TAX REPLACEMENT PLAN

For Immediate Release – Sunday 19th December 2010



Attention: NEWS DESKS


POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


PLANS TO ADD NEW TAXES REVEALED


Scottish Labour are poised to announce a new set of local taxes, and have abandoned plans to come up with a council tax replacement, a party insider has told a Sunday newspaper. The report demonstrates yet further disarray in Labour over their plans for local taxation as their leader at Holyrood calls for an increase in council tax while the leader of Scotland’s largest council agrees with the SNP Scottish Government that it should be frozen.


The SNP remain committed to working with Scotland’s local authorities to ensure services are protected and the Council Tax remains frozen – keeping money in the pockets of Scottish taxpayers.


Commenting, Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson said:

“It beggars belief that Labour want to hit Scottish families with a new ‘basket of taxes’ as they contend with the effects of Tory cuts from Westminster.


“Labour are at sixes and sevens over local taxation. Iain Gray wants to hike the Council Tax, while Labour in Glasgow City have at long last agreed to freeze it, albeit with bad grace.


“Labour have spent the best part of eight years promising to reform or replace the unfair Council Tax, and have come up with nothing apart from a disastrous idea to impose a basket of new local taxes on top of the Council Tax.


“At the Scottish election in May, voters will have the choice between the SNP who have delivered in government, and Labour who can’t even come up with credible ideas in opposition.”


ENDS


Notes:


According to the Sunday Times today, Labour are planning a range of new taxes as part of their plans for council tax reform:


“The party will also suggest a series of new ways local authorities could raise extra revenue to relieve the burden on council tax payers.”


(‘Climbdown for Gray on property tax’ Sunday Times p9)