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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Talks over scrapping council tax | Talks over scrapping council tax |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| Talks have taken place between the Scottish Government and the Liberal Democrats over scrapping the council tax in favour of a local income tax. | Talks have taken place between the Scottish Government and the Liberal Democrats over scrapping the council tax in favour of a local income tax. |
| The top level meeting, which took place at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, has been described as "constructive". | The top level meeting, which took place at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, has been described as "constructive". |
| The SNP is committed to replacing the council tax with a local income tax set at 3p. | The SNP is committed to replacing the council tax with a local income tax set at 3p. |
| Further detailed talks are expected to take place on Monday, ahead of the publication of a consultation document. | Further detailed talks are expected to take place on Monday, ahead of the publication of a consultation document. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney met Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen and Lib Dem finance spokesman Tavish Scott. | First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney met Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen and Lib Dem finance spokesman Tavish Scott. |
| Tax options | Tax options |
| It came just days after Mr Stephen challenged the first minister to enter into talks. | It came just days after Mr Stephen challenged the first minister to enter into talks. |
| The Conservatives branded the talks a waste of time and called for reform of the council tax. | The Conservatives branded the talks a waste of time and called for reform of the council tax. |
| Finance spokesman Derek Brownlee said: "All the effort that is going into talking about versions of local or national income tax hikes would be much better spent on reforming the council tax - that could be done in a matter of months, not years." | |
| Labour local government spokesman Andy Kerr said: "The SNP and Lib Dems are like the two ends of a pantomime horse, each pulling in a different direction and neither knowing which way to go next." | |
| The task is to turn overwhelming public support into a parliamentary majority John SwinneyFinance Secretary | |
| Mr Kerr added: "The SNP cynically promised the Scottish electorate that they could deliver existing service levels on a 3p rate but Labour has consistently pointed out that their sums don't add up." | |
| The SNP favour a centrally set local income tax, while the Lib Dems want it set at a local level. | The SNP favour a centrally set local income tax, while the Lib Dems want it set at a local level. |
| Reports suggest a compromise may be being considered to propose a centrally set tax which could evolve to have responsibility passed to local authorities. | Reports suggest a compromise may be being considered to propose a centrally set tax which could evolve to have responsibility passed to local authorities. |
| A spokesman for Mr Swinney indicated the two parties found much common ground. | |
| He said: "The meeting was very constructive. It is clear that our agreement about the need to scrap the council tax in favour of a fair local income tax based on ability to pay far outweigh the differences. | |
| "The Scottish Election Study last year showed that 88% of Scots favour a local income tax and only 12% back the discredited council tax. | |
| "The task now is to turn that overwhelming public support into a parliamentary majority and the discussions with the Lib Dems are hopefully the beginning of that process." | |
| A deal between the SNP and Lib Dems would still leave the government two votes short of a majority of 65 MSPs in the parliament. | A deal between the SNP and Lib Dems would still leave the government two votes short of a majority of 65 MSPs in the parliament. |
| This could come from the Green Party, but they support a land value tax. | This could come from the Green Party, but they support a land value tax. |