Socialists aim to bank votes in £1m tax giveaway

THE Scottish Socialists were taking to the streets of Edinburgh today to give away "£1 million".

Activists were handing out wads of mock £20 notes to passers-by to highlight how much the average person would gain from replacing the council tax with a local income tax.

SSP Lothians spokesman Colin Fox admitted the action was a "blatant attempt to buy votes on May 1".

He said: "It's a fair cop. All the other parties deny they are trying to buy votes but we have decided to come clean.

"We have a cool million in crisp £20 notes and we intend to give it all away right in the middle of Princes Street. It was good enough for the rock band KLF.

"All we're asking people to do is answer two simple questions - tell us how much they pay in council tax and tell us their income band. We calculate how much they save under our Scottish Service Tax plan and they can pocket the difference."

Mr Fox said academics had estimated 77 per cent of Scots would be better off under the SSP's proposals.

People with incomes below £10,000 a year would pay nothing. Others would be liable to higher tax bills as their income rose. Only those on salaries above £30,000 would be worse off than currently.

Mr Fox added: "Of course, we intend to get our million back by taxing the rich at a higher rate. So look out up there at Jenners and Harvey Nicks, here we come." The Scotsman