Bob Doris MSP has today criticised Labour plans to increase the council tax. After a two year freeze in council tax since the SNP formed the Scottish Government in 2007, Labour now think the people of Glasgow aren’t paying enough.

Under Labour the much hated council tax rose in Glasgow from £805 to £1213 for a band D property, a 51% rise between 1996/97 and 2007/08.

Bob Doris has slammed the proposal: "I simply can’t believe this is the best Labour can come up with at a time when people are worrying about how to pay their bills through the toughest recession in modern times."

Mr Doris’s comments follow a call by Labour’s finance adviser, Arthur Midwinter, for the Council Tax Freeze to be abolished.

Mr Doris added: "The SNP will continue the fight to scrap the council tax and replace it with a fair, workable local income tax.

"Families across Glasgow have felt the benefit of the council tax freeze introduced by the SNP. Iain Gray now wants us all to go back to the days of massive local tax hikes.

"Labour has long established itself as the party of tax and waste but surely they should realise that there is only so much you can expect hard pressed households to pay."

Notes:

1. Quoted by the Press Association on 5th Jun 2009 Professor Arthur Midwinter said: "The council tax freeze should be dropped."

2. A link showing Arthur Midwinter's links to Labour party are here.