SNP tax plans ‘scandalous’, McConnell claims
Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell has attacked the SNP’s plans to replace the council tax with a local income tax, branding aspects of it “scandalous”.
Mr McConnell acknowledged that council tax is unpopular but insisted it is the most stable way of funding local government.
A local income tax would create the “scandalous” situation where the super rich pay nothing for unearned incomes, while students could find themselves heavily taxed on their summer job, Mr McConnell claimed.
However, the SNP’s deputy leader insisted their policy was “fully costed and totally fair”, and attacked Mr McConnell for being unable to explain Labour’s plans to reform the tax system during a televised debate.
Labour has again found itself challenging the SNP over the future of the union. Mr McConnell today told voters they had a choice between building on the early years of devolution or risk putting Scotland in the “hands of those who want to use government to break up Britain.”
Outlining Labour’s vision for the future, Mr McConnell focused first on the past, claiming Scotland has become more successful, more prosperous and more confident during eight years of home rule.
The crux of the election now presented voters with a choice, he claimed: “On the one hand – the SNP want to use the Scottish Parliament as a tool to break up Britain. On the other – Labour wants to use the tools of the Scottish parliament to build up Scotland.”
If returned to government in Holyrood, Labour plan to build a further 250 schools, cut average class sizes, expand ‘globally useful’ subjects in primary school, increase the status of vocational education, create Science Centres of Excellence, raise the school leaving age to 18, expand nursery education and increase skills among adults, all funded by more investment.
The Liberal Democrats today also pledged to build 250 new schools as part of their manifesto for families. Other commitments include extra funding to tackle bullying, 1,000 extra teachers, free fruit for all primary pupils, smaller class sizes and 10,000 school-business partnerships.
Holyrood leader Nicol Stephen said: “These are just some of the positive policies in our Bright Future Agenda for children. Only a vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats will ensure that this positive package of measures is delivered for children and families.”
