THE COUNCIL TAX LOVERS

Who is ripping off Glasgow?  Well we now know who wants to.  The news this week that Glasgow Council Leader, Gordon Matheson wants to increase the Council Tax, is the most inept piece of political thinking there has been for a long time.

Let’s consider this.  The Calman Commission estimates that a 1 % increase in Council Tax equates to raising £20 million for all of Scotland’s Local Authorities.  Therefore to replace the £70 million the Scottish Government puts in would require at least a 3.5% increase in Council Tax.  So to even replace this revenue would require an inflation busting rise. 

At a time when the public are justifiably angry at having to pay for the Bankers Bail Out, to call for an increase in a piece of taxation that is fundamentally regressive is the economics of the madhouse.  With some Banks now recording huge profits, the debate should move onto who pays, and turning the screw on the CON DEM coalition.  A golden opportunity for Labour you may think.

But no, what we get is a demand for an increase in a regressive piece of taxation that is so unpopular the only people who want to keep it, are the unionist parties in Holyrood.

You couldn’t make it up!

Considering that Scotland local authorities spend £48 million on consultants alone, you wonder about priorities.

What was even worse was Councillors Matheson’s performance on Newsnight Scotland where he stated that there will be pay restraint for public sector workers.  So applying this logic, low paid Council Workers will be hit with a double whammy to pay the price of the Bankers Bail out and see their local services cut – a triple kick in the teeth.

This absurd piece of thinking only shows how unfit Labour are to run our country.  The more questions they are asked between now and next May, the more Glasgow and Scotland will reject them.

The case for progressive taxation, full financial powers and Independence for Scotland grows stronger.