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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex-minister criticises Humza Yousaf's council tax freeze pledge | Ex-minister criticises Humza Yousaf's council tax freeze pledge |
| (6 months later) | |
| Jeane Freeman was Scottish health secretary from 2018 to 2021 | Jeane Freeman was Scottish health secretary from 2018 to 2021 |
| A former SNP health secretary who served in cabinet with Humza Yousaf has said that she does not agree with his plan to freeze council tax. | A former SNP health secretary who served in cabinet with Humza Yousaf has said that she does not agree with his plan to freeze council tax. |
| The first minister made the announcement during his closing speech at his party's conference in Aberdeen. | The first minister made the announcement during his closing speech at his party's conference in Aberdeen. |
| But Jeane Freeman, who stood down as an SNP MSP in 2021, said it was not handled well. | But Jeane Freeman, who stood down as an SNP MSP in 2021, said it was not handled well. |
| Cosla, which represents local authorities, said it had not been warned in advance about the freeze. | Cosla, which represents local authorities, said it had not been warned in advance about the freeze. |
| Council tax freeze will be fully funded, says Humza Yousaf | Council tax freeze will be fully funded, says Humza Yousaf |
| SNP conference: Humza Yousaf announces Scottish council tax freeze | SNP conference: Humza Yousaf announces Scottish council tax freeze |
| The Scottish government had previously proposed raising council tax rates by as much as 22.5% for homes in higher bands. | The Scottish government had previously proposed raising council tax rates by as much as 22.5% for homes in higher bands. |
| But Mr Yousaf pledged they will now remain at the current levels when councils set their budgets for 2024-25. | But Mr Yousaf pledged they will now remain at the current levels when councils set their budgets for 2024-25. |
| On Tuesday he told his party conference the proposed freeze was evidence of "the SNP delivering for people when they need it most". | On Tuesday he told his party conference the proposed freeze was evidence of "the SNP delivering for people when they need it most". |
| But Ms Freeman, who served as health secretary during the Covid pandemic, told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "I don't think it was handled particularly well because after it all we've had is coverage, not about the announcement, but about people's anger and annoyance at the announcement. | But Ms Freeman, who served as health secretary during the Covid pandemic, told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show: "I don't think it was handled particularly well because after it all we've had is coverage, not about the announcement, but about people's anger and annoyance at the announcement. |
| "So that's never a good thing." | "So that's never a good thing." |
| First Minister Humza Yousaf delivered the keynote speech at the SNP conference in Aberdeen | First Minister Humza Yousaf delivered the keynote speech at the SNP conference in Aberdeen |
| Ms Freeman said that she could "see the sense" in a progressive policy of freezing council tax for lower bands, but indicated that she did not personally need her bill to be frozen. | Ms Freeman said that she could "see the sense" in a progressive policy of freezing council tax for lower bands, but indicated that she did not personally need her bill to be frozen. |
| The former health secretary said there was "always a pressure" to have "important things to say" in a conference speech and that could tempt leaders to focus on announcements rather than the impact of policies. | The former health secretary said there was "always a pressure" to have "important things to say" in a conference speech and that could tempt leaders to focus on announcements rather than the impact of policies. |
| She also described the fact that council tax had not been reformed since devolution as a "failure". | She also described the fact that council tax had not been reformed since devolution as a "failure". |
| Ms Freeman urged parties had to "stop the point scoring" and have a "proper debate" about where the limited resources of the Scottish government should be targeted. | Ms Freeman urged parties had to "stop the point scoring" and have a "proper debate" about where the limited resources of the Scottish government should be targeted. |
| Justice Secretary Angela Constance denied Mr Yousaf's failure to consult local authorities ahead of his speech was a mistake. | Justice Secretary Angela Constance denied Mr Yousaf's failure to consult local authorities ahead of his speech was a mistake. |
| Ms Constance told The Sunday Show: "The first minister has a duty to serve the people of Scotland and right now there is a cost of living crisis and his announcement will benefit 2.5m households." | Ms Constance told The Sunday Show: "The first minister has a duty to serve the people of Scotland and right now there is a cost of living crisis and his announcement will benefit 2.5m households." |
| Cosla criticism | Cosla criticism |
| The first minister later confirmed his plans would be be fully funded by the Scottish government. | The first minister later confirmed his plans would be be fully funded by the Scottish government. |
| However, local authority body Cosla criticised the move and said it was made without any agreement from councils. | However, local authority body Cosla criticised the move and said it was made without any agreement from councils. |
| A spokesperson for Cosla's presidential team said: "We deplore the way the announcement was made and its substance, both of which fly in the face of the Verity House Agreement which we all recently signed. | A spokesperson for Cosla's presidential team said: "We deplore the way the announcement was made and its substance, both of which fly in the face of the Verity House Agreement which we all recently signed. |
| "It has been shown that previous council tax freezes have been regressive, having no impact for the poorest in society and eroding the council tax base, compounding councils' ongoing underfunding. | "It has been shown that previous council tax freezes have been regressive, having no impact for the poorest in society and eroding the council tax base, compounding councils' ongoing underfunding. |
| "We are clear that local taxation and particularly council tax should be left for democratically elected councils to determine." | "We are clear that local taxation and particularly council tax should be left for democratically elected councils to determine." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scotland | |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |
| Humza Yousaf | Humza Yousaf |