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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Government to scrap council tax | Government to scrap council tax |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Scottish government is to press ahead with plans to replace council tax with an income-based alternative. | The Scottish government is to press ahead with plans to replace council tax with an income-based alternative. |
| However, the move may struggle to gain parliamentary approval with opposition from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Conservatives. | However, the move may struggle to gain parliamentary approval with opposition from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Conservatives. |
| Finance Secretary John Swinney said he would also aim to freeze council tax rates from April 2008 as a first step. | Finance Secretary John Swinney said he would also aim to freeze council tax rates from April 2008 as a first step. |
| The SNP's plans for a local income tax were branded a "threat" by Labour finance spokeswoman Wendy Alexander. | The SNP's plans for a local income tax were branded a "threat" by Labour finance spokeswoman Wendy Alexander. |
| The Lib Dems said they wanted individual councils to be able to vary local income tax, as opposed to the SNP's fixed 3p levy across Scotland. | The Lib Dems said they wanted individual councils to be able to vary local income tax, as opposed to the SNP's fixed 3p levy across Scotland. |
| Mr Swinney set out his aim to parliament as part of a drive to raise Scotland's growth rate to UK levels by 2011. | Mr Swinney set out his aim to parliament as part of a drive to raise Scotland's growth rate to UK levels by 2011. |
| There was more support for an announcement to remove or reduce rates for smaller businesses. | There was more support for an announcement to remove or reduce rates for smaller businesses. |
| Whether this government means business we will need to wait and see Derek Brownlee MSPConservative finance spokesman | Whether this government means business we will need to wait and see Derek Brownlee MSPConservative finance spokesman |
| "The government will bring forward legislation to abolish the unfair council tax," he told MSPs. | "The government will bring forward legislation to abolish the unfair council tax," he told MSPs. |
| "Our proposal is for a local income tax based on the ability to pay which will reduce the overall burden of local tax with the benefit felt by pensioners, families and the majority of Scots. | "Our proposal is for a local income tax based on the ability to pay which will reduce the overall burden of local tax with the benefit felt by pensioners, families and the majority of Scots. |
| "We stood for election on a platform to abolish the unfair council tax and we are determined to deliver this as part of our agenda to create a wealthier and a fairer Scotland." | "We stood for election on a platform to abolish the unfair council tax and we are determined to deliver this as part of our agenda to create a wealthier and a fairer Scotland." |
| Ms Alexander said the SNP's promised local income tax was "by far" the biggest threat to companies in Scotland. | Ms Alexander said the SNP's promised local income tax was "by far" the biggest threat to companies in Scotland. |
| "Not only would Scotland become the highest-taxed part of the UK - we would create a specific disincentive to work in Scotland," she said. | "Not only would Scotland become the highest-taxed part of the UK - we would create a specific disincentive to work in Scotland," she said. |
| "Frankly, the Scottish economy can do without it." | "Frankly, the Scottish economy can do without it." |
| 'Out of control' | 'Out of control' |
| Tory finance spokesman Derek Brownlee said of the Nationalists' plans to reduce business rates for smaller firms that his party had also put forward its own proposals on the issue. | Tory finance spokesman Derek Brownlee said of the Nationalists' plans to reduce business rates for smaller firms that his party had also put forward its own proposals on the issue. |
| "Whether this government means business we will need to wait and see," he said. | "Whether this government means business we will need to wait and see," he said. |
| "But if they can reduce business rates next year we will be very, very strongly supportive." | "But if they can reduce business rates next year we will be very, very strongly supportive." |
| Lib Dem finance spokesman Tavish Scott pointed out that there was broad support for bringing back trams to Edinburgh and also for building a rail link to the capital's airport, adding: "The first minister cannot describe the need for consensus on one hand and ignore it on the other." | Lib Dem finance spokesman Tavish Scott pointed out that there was broad support for bringing back trams to Edinburgh and also for building a rail link to the capital's airport, adding: "The first minister cannot describe the need for consensus on one hand and ignore it on the other." |
| Mr Scott also challenged the government to produce advice they had that led transport minister Stewart Stevenson to claim "costs were running out of control" for the projects. | Mr Scott also challenged the government to produce advice they had that led transport minister Stewart Stevenson to claim "costs were running out of control" for the projects. |
| "I do hope the government can absolutely demonstrate what advice Mr Stevenson got to make that remark in public," he said. | "I do hope the government can absolutely demonstrate what advice Mr Stevenson got to make that remark in public," he said. |