SNP Freeze Council Tax

There was a boost for Falkirk district council tax payers with the announcement that the SNP nationwide freeze on council tax would be implemented by the Labour / Tory coalition that runs Falkirk Council.

In a massive turnaround since the days of the Labour / Liberal Executive Falkirk Council received an increase in funding of more than three times the rate of inflation.

Falkirk also saw a reduction in the percentage of its budget ring fenced by central government reduced from 26% to 4% yet in a graceless budget speech Linda Gow still criticised the SNP government for seeking a freeze on council tax and paying local authorities to do so.

SNP Group Leader, David Alexander pointed out that Falkirk received a total of £7.4m more in funding than would have been the case if Labour were still in power in Holyrood and despite this Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie opposed the SNP budget.

The bill to council taxpayers would have increased by 15% had Mrs Peattie and her Labour Party colleagues had their way yet this was glossed over by Gow who claimed the credit for the actions of both the previous SNP / Independent Administration in Falkirk and the SNP Government in Edinburgh in a bizarre speech based on spin rather than fact.

Speaking at the council meeting, David Alexander said,

“Council taxpayers in Falkirk will welcome the delivery of a Council Tax freeze as the consultation exercise being run independently by the council on its website indicates.

That council tax freeze is in recognition of the fact that for years under Labour the burden of taxation was passed from national to local government. The freeze therefore comes wrapped in yellow and black ribbons and represents the best news yet for local taxpayers who have seen their bills rise by 70% in ten years since Labour came to power in Westminster.”