SNP spin: Local Income Tax cover-up is “academic.” You cannot trust the Nats on tax

In an astonishing statement, the SNP have dismissed the row over their Local Income Tax cover-up as "academic".

David McLetchie, Scottish Conservative Campaign Manager for the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, said:

"This is an astonishing reply.

"Misleading the Scottish public is not academic. It is endemic in the SNP.

"And since LIT is, I assume, for the long term, it has to work in good times and bad. And the memo makes it clear that a much higher rate is needed on all income up to £300,000, so the rest of the repost is bogus.

"Alex Salmond has been caught out.

"You cannot trust the Nats on Tax."

An SNP spokesperson said:

"The issue is now an entirely academic one, and anyway is last week's news story.

"As we have repeatedly said, we will take our plans for local income tax to the people at the next election, as it could only be implemented in the parliament after next.

"There are three requirements that need to be met for local income tax to replace the council tax. First, a full recovery in employment from the impact of Labour's recession; second, control over council tax benefit resources in Scotland; and third, greater control over the income tax base in Scotland.

"These would enable a 3p local income tax to fully replace the council tax. Labour's scaremongering figures are therefore entirely bogus, in an attempt to take the debate away from the reality of their record of sky-high council tax increases."

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