IAIN GRAY SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY LEADERS ALTERNATIVE TO COUNCIL TAX IS ... COUNCIL TAX?

IAIN GRAY SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY LEADERS ALTERNATIVE TO COUNCIL TAX IS ... COUNCIL TAX?

ATTACKS HIMSELF FOR VOTING FOR SNP BUDGET?

Commenting on Iain Gray’s speech to COSLA where he revealed Labour's alternative to the Council Tax would be Council Tax and he attacked the SNP budget he voted for SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said:

“Iain Gray has just pinned himself in to supporting a continuation of the Council Tax. The basic principle of taxation should be based on the ability to pay not the homes people live in . Renaming and rebranding council tax will just be laughable.

“Under Labour the unfair Council Tax increased by over 60%. It is bizarre that he thinks people will support a continuation of Labour’s tax on people’s homes.

“As real council tax rises south of the border show Council Tax has continued to increase under Labour whilst the SNP has delivered a freeze . That stands as an example of how things could have been if Labour were still in power in Scotland.

“Labour's lack of answers when it comes to helping people in these hard economic times is just exemplified by Iain Gray’s unimaginative attempts to keep a Council Tax.

“Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering another council tax freeze for the people of Scotland and committed to freezing council tax for the next two years as well. A freeze that will help them keep more of their own money in these uncertain economic times .

"Equally bizarre is his attack on the SNP budget – which he voted for. Perhaps he can explain why he is attacking himself for supporting that budget.”