Labour: This is Salmond's poll tax

Thursday, 04, Sep 2008 12:00

Cathy Jamieson acting Labour leader, comments on plans to abolish council tax north of the border:

"Alex Salmond says he 'didn’t mind' Thatcherite economics. Now he is bringing forward his very own tartan poll tax.

"His plans for a local income tax are so discredited that even the SNP are ashamed to mention its name. Instead, it is transformed into the abolition of council tax bill.

"Whatever Alex Salmond decides to call them, the SNP's tax plans will simultaneously make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK and damage local services.

"That's why they are opposed by virtually almost everyone in Scotland, from the STUC to the CBI. The First minister should stop pretending that he knows better and dump the local income tax now.

"It would have been far better if this legislative programme was used to increase investment in health, provide jobs for newly qualified teachers and end automatic early release for prisoners.