13th April 2004
Johnny
Vegas Gambling with Hardworking Families
Commenting
on remarks made by SNP leader, John Swinney, on his visit to Inverclyde today,
MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, said:
“Lectures
from John Swinney on the public finances? I’ve
heard it all now. Next he’ll be
giving tips on leadership.
“The
fact is that nearly 80% of a council’s budget is already funded by central
government – in other words, funded through means such as income tax.
To increase that amount would hammer every hardworking family in
Inverclyde.
“Excluding
one major source of wealth such as property from the tax system would not only
be unfair, it would, as the history books show, create big tax loopholes and
even bigger paydays for tax lawyers.
“Of
course, property values have increased markedly since the council tax bands were
originally agreed and that is why the Labour Party’s manifesto for last
year’s election stated that ‘we
will design a fairer council tax banding system which is more representative of
house valuations in Scotland.’ Further,
the Scottish Executive’s programme
for the next four years contains an agreement to a full review of local
government finance, during which those who wish to see a different system can
argue their case.”
ENDS
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