SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 31/01/06

McAllion issues “action not talk” challenge on eve of council tax debate

John McAllion , SSP candidate in the Dunfermline and West Fife By election , has issued a blunt council tax challenge to his opponents in the contest.

Speaking as the Scottish Parliament prepares to debate Tommy Sheridan’s bill to scrap the council tax and replace it with an income based Scottish Service Tax he said:
“The time for kidding is over. Several parties in the election claim to want to scrap the council tax.”
“Well Tommy Sheridan’s bill would do just that and I challenge my opponents to set aside party advantage and support the scrapping of the unfair council tax.
“Tommy’s Bill has support from a range of organisations including the Scottish Pensioners Forum and the Poverty Alliance.
“Significantly for New Labour who still support the Tory designed Council Tax the Sheridan Bill is supported by the public services union PCS, Rail & Maritime union RMT and the Fire Brigades Union FBU demonstrating that fairness is till a priority in the wider Labour Movement.”

The parliament said Mr McAllion :
“Must have the courage and moral fibre to scrap a tax that hammers the low paid and pensioners but pampers the rich and wealthy.
“It must not ignore the shameful plight of thousands of low paid workers and pensioners who struggle to pay the ever increasing council tax.”

83% of Scottish households living on less than £40,000 are the ones who will gain from the income based Scottish Service Tax while the wealthy will pay more, he said.

“Most importantly those who earn £10.000 a year or less will pay nothing under our proposed Scottish Service Tax.
“While well heeled politicians debate the finer points of the case thousands of people face real hardship in paying this Tory inspired tax.
“I urge every candidate to press MSPs to back Tommy’s Bill and scrap the council tax.”
“The voters in this election will be closely watching the outcome.”
[ENDS]