GRAY FAILS COUNCIL TAX TEST.

GRAY FAILS COUNCIL TAX TEST.

12/12 RATING IS WORSE THAN ALEXANDER

Labour has failed a key test of opposition after Iain Gray stated Labour will not have a policy on council tax until 2011.

In a humiliating interview for the Labour leader he also claimed he was rated 12/12 for his performances at First Minister’s Questions.

"I think you`ll find most of the sketch writers would have given me
probably 12 out of 12 in the ones that we`ve had."

Asked repeatedly about the council tax and his campaign promises to produce an alternative Iain Gray accepted Labour had done no work on their previous council tax policy, that it was “no surprise” they had paid for it at the election – but made clear that Labour will not bring forward their council tax policy until 2011.

Asked if Labour would have a position on council tax when the abolition bill comes to Parliament early next year he said;

“I think we’ll be further forward but the place where we will present definitively to the people what we think should happen to the council tax will be the 2011 election because we think that’s the proper time.”

SNP MSP and Finance Committee member Joe FitzPatrick said;

“Iain Gray has been completely and humiliatingly exposed on the council tax.

“Like Wendy Alexander he has believed his own hype.

“Far from 12 out of 12, after nearly 100 days of Iain Gray his party’s policies are in tatters.

“It’s not just that Labour has no viable alternative to council tax, they have no alternative at all.

“Iain Gray knows the council tax is unfair yet Labour are happy to leave it in place not just to the next Parliament but for years beyond that.

“Along with their friends in the Tory party it seems Labour will defend the council tax to their dying breath.

“Labour is stuck in a rut, carping from the sidelines and making no progress.

"They failed the test of Government in Scotland, now Iain Gray has failed the test of opposition.”