SNP u-turn shows that only the Liberal Democrats will scrap the Council Tax

3.22.13pm GMT Thu 12th Feb 2009

Kevin Lang wants to see the council tax scrapped and replaced with a fairer system.

Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh North & Leith have attacked the SNP Government for ditching their plans to scrap the unfair council tax, describing as a betrayal of those struggling to pay their council tax bills.

Liberal Democrats believe the Council Tax is regressive and must be abolished in favour of a fairer system, that properly takes into account people's ability to pay. The SNP also fought the last election with a promise to abolish the council tax but their Finance Minister has announced a spectacular u-turn, choosing to keep the council tax as a way of paying for local council services.

Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh North & Leith have long put the abolition of the council tax at the heart of their local campaigning.

Local parliamentary candidate, Kevin Lang said, "The council tax is one of the most unfair taxes in the UK, hitting those on low and fixed incomes. The poorest people pay six times as much of their income on the Council Tax than the richest. This is wrong and it must be changed.

"Every day during the election, the SNP promised to scrap the Council Tax. However, just as they did with the abolition of student debt, the SNP have dumped a clear commitment from their manifesto. It is a gross betrayal of people in Edinburgh North & Leith and across Scotland.

"It is now clear that only the Liberal Democrat are truly committed to scrapping the unfair and discredited Council Tax. The SNP have chosen to join with the Tories and Labour in promising to keep it. At the next election, people will know that only a vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to axe this unfair tax."