Dundee SNP

With Council Tax demand letters now arriving on doormats, many families will be seeing the benefit of the third consecutive year of the SNP Scottish Government’s Council Tax Freeze. This year Water Bills are at the same rate as last year too, meaning for most people there will be no increase to pay this year. This will be real help to households say the SNP.

But if Labour had had their way, householders would now be facing swingeing increases in their bills. Now Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick has challenged Labour politicians to admit the scale of the Council Tax bills which people would now be facing if Labour had had their way.

Joe FitzPatrick said: “Over recent weeks it has become apparent that Labour now support imposing higher taxes on the people of Scotland. By saying they oppose a council tax freeze they are supporting increasing the council tax on hard working families.

“The question they have to answer is how much they want to raise it by ?

“Over the 10 years they were in power they increased council tax across Scotland by a staggering 60%. Council Tax went up every year under Labour and in Dundee over the period of ten years 1996-2006 when Labour were in power by themselves or in coalition with Lib Dems, the Council Tax increased by 51%. That Labour are openly planning to do this again is astonishing.

“Since those Labour politicians in Scotland who are calling for higher council taxes are members of Iain Gray’s shadow cabinet it must follow that he supports this policy. Therefore he should say by how much he thinks council tax should increase?”

Notes:

On 10th March 2010 Labour’s deputy spokesperson on finance David Whitton tabled an amendment to a Parliamentary Motion attacking the Council Tax freeze.

It has been supported by Jackie Baillie, Frank McAveety, Rhona Brankin, Trish Godman, James Kelly, Helen Eadie, Des McNulty, Pauline McNeill, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Smith

http://www.parlamaid-alba.org/Apps2/business/motions/Default.aspx?motionid=18557

On 15th March 2010 Labour’s Labour housing spokesperson Johann Lamont issued a press release attacking the Council Tax freeze.

http://www.scottishlabour.org.uk/140-million-local-housing-cuts-revealed

  On 17th March 2010 Labour’s education spokesman Des McNulty issued a statement attacking the Council Tax freeze.

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick and Councillor Willie Sawers, SNP Finance Spokesperson on Dundee City Council today reacted with astonishment that Labour are apparently planning to re-introduce a property tax to replace the Council Tax.

According to reports in the Times newspaper, Labour is to revise the Burt Report proposal for a 1% tax on homeowners as a new form of property tax – although when the proposal came out in 2006, sources close to Labour’s then First Minister Jack McConnell responded to the proposal saying: ‘There is no way that Labour Ministers will support a 1% homes tax.’”

Now the party seem to be backtracking to adopt what the chief of COSLA, Labour Councillor Pat Watters described at the time as “the worst of all possibilities”.

Joe FitzPatrick said today: “Labour’s new tax would penalise homeowners and pensioners if it was ever introduced. It is frankly bizarre that they have rehashed this proposal which was ridiculed by Labour themselves three years ago. It shows that there is no new thinking going in within Scottish Labour.

“Pensioners and homeowners across Scotland will be horrified by this plan.

“If these plans were ever to be implemented we would see pensioners facing enormous bills. Scotland’s pensioners have worked hard to pay for their homes, why should they be penalised for changes in the property market.

“And any homeowner will want to make improvements to their property. Why should homeowners be penalised for improving property they own?

“To penalise people who make their homes more energy efficient would be utterly wrong at a time when we are working to improve our housing stock and tackle climate change.

Councillor Sawers, SNP Finance Spokesperson on Dundee City Council said: “It seems Labour are so desperate to show they have a policy they’ve picked the first one they could find – even it will damage Scottish households.

“As for revaluation, proposed by Labour in Glasgow – everyone knows that means tax rises. When properties were revalued in Cardiff 64% of people saw their council tax bills rocket.

“The SNP Scottish Government has delivered a council tax freeze for all Scottish households, helping them through the recession and we will scrap the unfair council tax and introduce fair taxation based on ability to pay.”

ATTACKS HIMSELF FOR VOTING FOR SNP BUDGET

Commenting on Iain Gray’s speech to COSLA where he revealed Labour’s alternative to the Council Tax would be Council Tax and he attacked the SNP budget he voted for SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – said:

“Iain Gray has just pinned himself in to supporting a continuation of the Council Tax. The basic principle of taxation should be based on the ability to pay not the homes people live in. Renaming and rebranding council tax will just be laughable.

“Under Labour the unfair Council Tax increased by over 60%. It is bizarre that he thinks people will support a continuation of Labour’s tax on people’s homes.

“As real council tax rises south of the border show Council Tax has continued to increase under Labour whilst the SNP has delivered a freeze. That stands as an example of how things could have been if Labour were still in power in Scotland.

“Labour’s lack of answers when it comes to helping people in these hard economic times is just exemplified by Iain Gray’s unimaginative attempts to keep a Council Tax.

“Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering another council tax freeze for the people of Scotland and committed to freezing council tax for the next two years as well. A freeze that will help them keep more of their own money in these uncertain economic times.

“Equally bizarre is his attack on the SNP budget – which he voted for. Perhaps he can explain why he is attacking himself for supporting that budget.”

Commenting on today’s news that council tax south of the border will increase by an average of 3% compared to Scotland where it is frozen SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee – pointed to the difference as an example of how the SNP Government is delivering for Scotland whilst Labour’s government fails south of the border.

The figures for south of the border were revealed in a survey of councils in England by the Local Government Association.

Commenting Mr FitzPatrick said:

“This survey highlights Labour’s lack of answers when it comes to helping people in these hard economic times. It also stands as an example of how things could have been if Labour were still in power in Scotland.

“Thankfully we have an SNP Government delivering another council tax freeze for the people of Scotland and to freezing council tax for the next two years as well. A freeze that will help them keep more of their own money in these uncertain economic times .

“Since the SNP came in to Government we have seen council tax frozen after years of increases under Labour. News that it continues to rise south of the border show s a Labour government failing to meet the needs of people south of the border.

“This survey just shows the benefits voting SNP has brought to people in Scotland and that Labour is out of touch.”

LONDON LABOUR CUTS BLOCK FAIR TAXATION

SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the extension of the council tax freeze to a full four years.

John Swinney today confirmed that the SNP Government will support a council tax freeze in 2010/11 and 2011/12.

No council tax bill will need to increase under this SNP Government.

Joe FitzPatrick also condemned Labour’s £1 billion of cuts to Scotland’s budget, cuts that will stop Scottish tax payers receiving the biggest tax cut in a generation and the unholy alliance of Labour and the Tories who have blocked SNP efforts to scrap the council tax.

Mr FitzPatrick said:

“Today’s confirmation that council tax will not increase by one penny in the next three years is excellent news for taxpayers across Scotland.

“In 2011/12, the SNP Government will provide the resources to ensure that Scotland’s council tax payers will be paying no more than they did in 2007.

“With opposition parties blocking moves to scrap the Council Tax – after it doubled under the Tories and Labour – the SNP freeze is helping hard pressed families during tough times. Continuing the freeze for four full years will bring real benefit to household budgets.

“An unholy alliance of Labour and the Tories has conspired to keep the council tax.

“If parliament will not reflect the desire of the people of Scotland to scrap the Council Tax, we will take the case for fair local tax to the people in 2011 – and the ‘council tax cabal’ will pay the price at the ballot box.”

The value of the SNP’s council tax freeze has been highlighted today after a new survey showed that councils in England will raise council tax by 3.5 – 4%.

The above inflation increase is a stark contrast to the fully funded council tax freeze being offered by the SNP Government for the second year in a row.

SNP MSP for Dundee West Joe FitzPatrick said:

“These rises in England show how important the SNP Government’s offer of a council tax freeze is.

“For the second year in a row the SNP is helping households across Scotland keep their bills down and make it through the tough times ahead.

“The increases in council tax in England are a stark reminder of the decade of council tax rises suffered under Labour and a reminder of why the unfair council tax must be scrapped.

“The Scottish Government is putting in £70 million to fund this tax freeze.

“Alongside further reductions in prescription charges and slashing business rates to zero for 120,000 businesses the SNP is working hard to put money in people’s pockets.

“With increased investment announced in hospitals, dental centres, transport and enterprise projects and affordable housing to maintain jobs in construction and a budget that targets economic growth the SNP is taking action to ensure Scotland can weather the economic downturn.”

LABOUR FAIL TO SUBMIT ANY ALTERNATIVE TO CONSULTATION – “NO IDEA, NO POLICY, NO CREDIBILITY”

SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick today welcomed the results of the Scottish Government’s consultation to scrap the unfair council tax with over half of all individual respondents supporting the SNP’s proposals for a Local Income Tax as fairer than the Council Tax.

The consultation responses also support the retention of council tax benefit monies in Scotland, and show the failure of Labour to put forward any suggestions on one of the dominant issues in Scottish politics.

Dundee West MSP and member of the Scottish Parliament’s finance committee Joe Fitzpatrick;
“The SNP is committed to scrapping the unfair council tax – a position which carries majority support in the Scottish Parliament – and replacing it with a fair local income tax based on the ability to pay.

“This consultation shows people and organisations across Scotland support the SNP’s plans to make local taxation fairer.

“The SNP’s proposals have won strong backing with the majority agreeing that council tax benefit money should be retained in Scotland not put back in the pocket of the treasury.

“The astonishing thing about this consultation is the absolute failure of the Labour Party to offer up an alternative. Only yesterday, Andy Kerr attacked the Tories for failing to offer any ideas to the Calman Commission on tax powers for the Scottish Parliament. He said that it was ‘not credible not to submit any view whatsoever on what is one of the biggest questions in Scottish politics’ (Sunday Times, 23 November). Yet on the major issue of local taxation to fund local services, Labour have no idea, no policy, no credibility, and made no submission.

“As a leadership candidate Andy Kerr said he would immediately signal a desire to replace the council tax whilst Iain Gray said he would “replace or reform” council tax – three months on Labour’s leader and Labour’s finance spokesperson have offered nothing.

“Labour’s credibility on the council tax abolition is in tatters. Their new leader has admitted their old proposals were made “on the back of a fag packet”. Now they don’t even have that.

“The Council tax is unfair and unpopular. This consultation shows there is real support for scrapping the council tax and introducing a local income tax based on ability to pay. It is now for parties across Parliament to see sense and support scrapping the council tax.”

FIRST LABOUR, NOW THE TORIES, JOIN THE RACE TO CATCH UP WITH THE SNP

Commenting on the Shadow Chancellor’s announcement that a Conservative Government would seek to freeze the council tax, SNP Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:

“In a time of rising food and fuel bills, the SNP Government is doing everything in its power to make life easier for hardworking Scots: scrapping prescription charges, cutting or abolishing small business rates, and freezing the unfair council tax through a historic concordat with local government.

“The people of Scotland know that the SNP are on their side, and the London parties are struggling to catch up with us. We called for the planned road fuel tax increase to be wiped out, and Gordon Brown caved in under pressure in Glasgow East.

“Now, the Shadow Chancellor says he would freeze Council Tax. The SNP Government already has – just as we proposed a fuel duty regulator, which the Tories copied after refusing to vote for it in the House of Commons!

“Last week, the Prime Minister announced he would abolish prescription charges for certain patients, and have more flexible GP surgery opening times. The SNP Government has already introduced a policy to make prescription charges free for all, and over half of GP surgeries in Scotland already provide extended hours.

“The SNP Government is leading the way, and the London parties are falling over each other as they try to play catch up.”

SNP MSP Joe Fitzpatrick today highlighted figures produced by the GMB Union which show that £112 million of council tax is unpaid for 2007-08 leaving a black hole in council finances.

Mr Fitzpatrick said that scrapping the unfair council tax and replacing it with a local income tax based on the ability to pay would reduce problems of non-payment as money would be collected directly through the income tax system and lift the burden from councils of chasing unclaimed arrears.

Mr Fitzpatrick said; “The SNP plans to abolish the unfair council tax and replace it with a local income tax based on the ability to pay will see 85,000 people lifted out of poverty and leave eight out of ten households either better or no worse off than they are under the council tax.

“Councils across Scotland are currently owed £112 million in council tax arrears for the last year alone.  For the councils this is a black hole they now have to struggle to fill by employing sheriff officers to chase arrears – often from people who will be financially struggling to meet these  payments.

“Instead of leaving individuals to navigate the often complex council tax system themselves and leaving councils with the long running problem of collecting arrears the SNP’s proposals will ensure those who can afford to pay will pay and that there will be no need for people to navigate the bureaucratic nightmare of paying council tax anymore.

“As a constituency MSP I hear regularly from people who are being pursued for money they have paid, or that they often do not actually owe.

“Scrapping the council tax and replacing it with a local income tax based on ability to pay will end this ridiculous situation and restore fairness to tax payers across Scotland.”

Commenting on the Legislative Programme announced by the First Minister in the Scottish Parliament today (Wednesday) SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick, a member of the Finance Committee, welcomed the introduction of a bill to abolish the unfair Council Tax.

Mr FitzPatrick said:

“This will be a very popular move by a Scottish Government which is reflecting the mood of the people of Scotland – particularly at a time of rising household bills.

“The SNP Government has already delivered a Council Tax freeze so that more families can keep more of their own money at such a time of growing financial burdens.

“Council Tax went up 60% under Labour and it is no longer tenable to defend it as a fair tax. So it is no wonder a majority of people support the introduction of a system based on ability to pay and Labour’s leadership contenders are all over the place with no clear alternative.

“The SNP has that alternative – a system on ability to pay. The SNP’s proposals mean a £280 million tax cut for the people of Scotland and will clearly have major benefits for families concerned about financial hardship. Under the SNP’s proposals the overwhelming majority will see their bills cut.

“Perhaps that’s why Labour’s defence of the Council Tax is crumbling as not only do a majority of Scots voters support the Local Income Tax, but a majority of Labour voters also do.”