SNP MSP Bob Doris has hit out at Labour MSPs who today voted to increase the council tax in Glasgow by 23% or force the city to make swingeing cuts to its budget.

This comes at a time where Labour controlled Glasgow City Council have proposed the closure of 25 schools in the city and are factoring that into their own budget process, a process that will now also be mired in uncertainty and confusion.

Of the situation Bob Doris MSP said: "Given that the Labour council are proposing to close or merge 25 schools and nurseries and claim that this will save £3.7million, I shudder to think how many more schools they will mercilessly target if they have to deal with a shortfall equivalent to £205million.

"That is exactly what the Labour MSPs voted for by playing party politics with Scotland's money and it is parents and children who will suffer.

"It won't just be parents who suffer. The need for a massive Council Tax increase is now on the horizon, as well as economic turmoil with nearly 12,000 small businesses in our city threatened with no longer having their rates scrapped. Given the economic crisis that may mean more bust firms and many more jobless Glaswegians.

"Left to Glasgow Labour MSPs the average Glaswegian on council tax band D will be paying an additional £274.14 in 2009/2010. Unless the SNP's budget is passed at the second attempt, there will be no more council tax freezes, only massive increases being forced on people already struggling to cope with this biting recession."

Notes:

Scottish Parliamentary rules are such that if a budget does not go through, expenditure may continue as in the previous year. The planned increase in the block grant from Westminster however, would be lost. In 2009/2010 that means a loss to the Scottish budget of £1.8million and for Glasgow, the equivalent to £205million. For the average Band D council tax payer in Glasgow that could signal increases of £274.14.

The Scottish Government signalled its intention to bring the budget back before parliament at the earliest opportunity, likely to be next week.