Labour appeared alarmed by the increasing support for Tommy Sheridan's bill to abolish council tax. The Scottish Socialist leader received support from two Nationalist back benchers, taking the number of signatures required to allow the proposal to make progress to above the necessary threshold.
Mr Sheridan has already fought high-profile campaigns in pursuing popular causes with privately proposed legislation. These include the abolition of warrant sales and poindings, and proposals to provide free meals to all primary school children.