Council tax ‘raid’ attack

North-east councillors have accused the Scottish Government of staging a “smash and grab raid” on council tax payers in the region.

Aberdeenshire Council’s Liberal Democrat group has criticised the proposals to increase council tax rates applied to properties in bands EH. Group leader Karen Clark said: “This proposal would see almost half of all households in Aberdeenshire paying more council tax on the specific orders of the Scottish Government.”

Ms Clark has called for the SNP leader of Aberdeenshire Council, Richard Thomson, to join the fight against the “undemocratic seizure” of the money. A spokesman for Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: “The Liberals are wrong about our local tax proposals – the reality is all local authorities will still retain all council tax they raise in their area, and there will be an additional £100million each year available to spend on improving education.”

Mr Thomson said: “The council tax reforms will make the tax more progressive by leaving lower earners in band AD houses untouched while raising an additional £100million to improve educational attainment right across Scotland. Three-quarters of people across the country will end up paying the same or less under these plans.”