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Labour "shoot themselves in the foot" on Local Income Tax |
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Thursday, 19 June 2008 |
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 Glasgow Labour admit over 70% benefit from Local Income Tax
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Labour council accepts Council Tax is Failing
SNP MSP for Glasgow Bob Doris today highlighted figures produced by Glasgow City Council’s Labour administration showing that 72% of Glaswegians would be better off under the SNP’s Local Income Tax proposals.
Mr Doris also highlighted the astonishing admission from one of only two Labour councils left in Scotland that the council tax is not working.
"Glasgow Labour have shot themselves in the foot. This report gives the game away. It is no wonder Labour voters back the Local Income Tax.
"Glasgow’s evidence shows that 72% of Glaswegians would be better off under the SNP’s proposed Local Income Tax.
"The SNP’s proposals come with a £280 million tax cut for the people of Scotland and will clearly have major benefits for the hard pressed council tax payers of Glasgow – the overwhelming majority of whom will see their bills cut.
"Not only that – Glasgow’s Labour Council have accepted that the council tax is not working and that Scotland needs an alternative. The SNP has that alternative – it is a local income tax based on ability to pay.
"The overwhelming majority of council tax payers in Glasgow will be better off. No amount of fiddling the figures can hide the fact that evidence from council tax payers across Glasgow shows that 72% of Glaswegians will see their tax bill reduced by the introduction of a Local Income Tax.
"Perhaps that’s why not only do a majority of Scots voters support the Local Income Tax, but a majority of Labour voters do too.
Notes:
- 1. From Glasgow City Council – Response to the Scottish Government Consultation "A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland"
1.3. The results from our online calculator show that, for the people who used the calculator, 72% would be financially better off with the tax set at 3 pence in the pound, while 21% would be worse off and 7% would see no difference.
1.14 The Council recognises concerns over the current system of local taxation and will consider alternative options for local taxation in the coming months. A subsequent report will therefore be prepared summarising these alternatives and setting out the Council’s view on the future structure of local taxation.
- Would you support or oppose the introduction of a local income tax to replace the Council Tax? Yes 46% No 22% DK 32% Broken down by Holyrood voting intention the polling information is as follows (Y/N/DK):
Labour 40%/27%/33% Conservative 42%/29%/29% Lib Dem 51%/20%/29% SNP 58%/19%/23% The TNS system Three poll interviewed 1086 people across Scotland between the 23rd and 29th April 2008. |
