Alex Salmond takes to the skies

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6609125.stm

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SNP leader Alex Salmond said his plans to replace council tax with a local income tax were fair and popular.

His comments came as he embarked on a helicopter tour of Scotland.

Mr Salmond claimed his party's proposals to reform the way local government is funded would leave many Scots better off.

The Nationalist boss was touring Fife, Ochil, Linlithgow and Livingston, ahead of the 2007 Scottish Parliament election on Thursday.

"I believe that it's time to scrap the unfair council tax," he said.

"The SNP's proposals are fair, detailed and popular."

Mr Salmond claimed his party's proposal for a local income tax would benefit pensioners and families, describing it as "the biggest tax cut in a generation".