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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| MSPs to vote on council tax increase for top bands | MSPs to vote on council tax increase for top bands |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MSPs are to vote on increasing the top four bands of council tax in Scotland. | MSPs are to vote on increasing the top four bands of council tax in Scotland. |
| Members will consider the issue via a parliamentary bureau motion at the end of the day's business at Holyrood, after the increase was backed by the local government committee. | Members will consider the issue via a parliamentary bureau motion at the end of the day's business at Holyrood, after the increase was backed by the local government committee. |
| The government wants some households to pay more to raise money for education. | The government wants some households to pay more to raise money for education. |
| But opposition parties have questioned the Scottish government's approach, with some calling for more radical reforms to local taxation. | But opposition parties have questioned the Scottish government's approach, with some calling for more radical reforms to local taxation. |
| The proposals would see increases in bands E to H, with the average band E household paying £2 per week more and those in the highest band about £10 a week more. | The proposals would see increases in bands E to H, with the average band E household paying £2 per week more and those in the highest band about £10 a week more. |
| Parliament has to pass a piece of secondary legislation to change the bands, and the order will go before MSPs as a parliamentary bureau motion after Finance Secretary Derek Mackay persuaded the local government committee to support the move. | Parliament has to pass a piece of secondary legislation to change the bands, and the order will go before MSPs as a parliamentary bureau motion after Finance Secretary Derek Mackay persuaded the local government committee to support the move. |
| The average annual increase in council tax as a result of the band adjustments would be; | The average annual increase in council tax as a result of the band adjustments would be; |
| Green MSP Andy Wightman has put forward an amendment accepting the changes, but noting that parliament "regrets" that the plans "undermine the principle of local accountability and autonomy and fail to address a number of issues". | Green MSP Andy Wightman has put forward an amendment accepting the changes, but noting that parliament "regrets" that the plans "undermine the principle of local accountability and autonomy and fail to address a number of issues". |
| Derek Mackay has put forward an amendment to this amendment accepting some parts, but removing the "regret". | Derek Mackay has put forward an amendment to this amendment accepting some parts, but removing the "regret". |
| Opposition members have repeatedly called for a different approach from the Scottish government, with many pointing to the findings of the Commission on Local Tax Reform. | Opposition members have repeatedly called for a different approach from the Scottish government, with many pointing to the findings of the Commission on Local Tax Reform. |
| The minority SNP administration only escaped a defeat over local taxation in the chamber in September after Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's vote failed to register. | The minority SNP administration only escaped a defeat over local taxation in the chamber in September after Labour leader Kezia Dugdale's vote failed to register. |
| 'I will engage with others' | 'I will engage with others' |
| Mr Mackay told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme said the intention was to raise £100m more money for local government to spend "that they would not normally have". | Mr Mackay told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme said the intention was to raise £100m more money for local government to spend "that they would not normally have". |
| He also made clear that he was willing to engage with opposition parties about wider changes to local taxation. | He also made clear that he was willing to engage with opposition parties about wider changes to local taxation. |
| Mr Mackay said: "This is not the end of the story. I have said previously, and I will say again, I will engage with political parties - we are a minority government - to take forward further ideas around progressive, local taxation." | Mr Mackay said: "This is not the end of the story. I have said previously, and I will say again, I will engage with political parties - we are a minority government - to take forward further ideas around progressive, local taxation." |
| The Scottish Conservatives say that if council tax increases, the money raised should be spent by councils. Local government spokesman Graham Simpson said the SNP was "not only hitting hard working families with higher taxes but also ensuring that local people do not feel any direct benefit form the money raised." | The Scottish Conservatives say that if council tax increases, the money raised should be spent by councils. Local government spokesman Graham Simpson said the SNP was "not only hitting hard working families with higher taxes but also ensuring that local people do not feel any direct benefit form the money raised." |
| Scottish Labour meanwhile said the government should "think again". Deputy leader Alex Rowley said: "The nationalists' proposals have not been bold enough, ambitious enough or frankly good enough." | Scottish Labour meanwhile said the government should "think again". Deputy leader Alex Rowley said: "The nationalists' proposals have not been bold enough, ambitious enough or frankly good enough." |
| 'Bury the council tax' | 'Bury the council tax' |
| The Scottish Greens also back replacing the council tax, and are in favour of a revaluation of properties - the current system is based on house values dating back to 1991. | The Scottish Greens also back replacing the council tax, and are in favour of a revaluation of properties - the current system is based on house values dating back to 1991. |
| And the Lib Dems said that "this week should be the week to bury the council tax, not raise it". MSP Mike Rumbles said the vote was "hugely significant", adding that "local taxation should be for local services". | And the Lib Dems said that "this week should be the week to bury the council tax, not raise it". MSP Mike Rumbles said the vote was "hugely significant", adding that "local taxation should be for local services". |
| Will council tax bands go up or not? | Will council tax bands go up or not? |
| Analysis by BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim | Analysis by BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim |
| It's all getting a bit complicated at Holyrood - an attempted amendment to an amendment to a PBM approving an SSI. Clear as mud. | It's all getting a bit complicated at Holyrood - an attempted amendment to an amendment to a PBM approving an SSI. Clear as mud. |
| So what is actually going to happen with this vote? Are these council tax bands going up or not? | So what is actually going to happen with this vote? Are these council tax bands going up or not? |
| The complication stems from Andy Wightman's amendment, which accepts the rate rises but includes a note of "regret" at the government's approach. | The complication stems from Andy Wightman's amendment, which accepts the rate rises but includes a note of "regret" at the government's approach. |
| This amendment might well pass, given opposition parties ganged up on the (minority) government over council tax as recently as September. | This amendment might well pass, given opposition parties ganged up on the (minority) government over council tax as recently as September. |
| If it does, then the SNP might not want to vote for the order. They could well end up abstaining - which would make the final vote a straight fight between the opposition parties. | If it does, then the SNP might not want to vote for the order. They could well end up abstaining - which would make the final vote a straight fight between the opposition parties. |
| Ms Sturgeon was specifically pressed on this by Patrick Harvie in the chamber at FMQs - and she did not commit to backing a Green-amended motion, only promoting Mr Mackay's amendment. | |
| The Tories and Lib Dems are both broadly opposed to the changes - so they could vote against the amended motion, outnumbering Labour and the Greens. The order would be dead - for now. | The Tories and Lib Dems are both broadly opposed to the changes - so they could vote against the amended motion, outnumbering Labour and the Greens. The order would be dead - for now. |
| This is just one scenario. But it's clearly a worry for the government, evidenced by Derek Mackay's bid to amend the amendment - and Ms Sturgeon's repeated warnings to other parties not to "side with the Tories" at decision time. |