THE GREENS are planning to fire a warning shot at SNP ministers by forcing nationalist MSPs to put their names to criticism of Nicola Sturgeon’s council tax policy.
In a move designed to ramp up pressure on the First Minister to revisit her controversial plans, Green MSP Andy Wightman will propose an amendment to a Government motion seeking approval for a measure to raise bills for more expensive homes.
The amendment, to be voted on tomorrow, does not seek to oppose the band changes but adds that the parliament "regrets" that the Government's wider proposals "undermine the principle of local accountability and autonomy" and fails to address a series of issues raised by an expert cross-party commission set up by Ms Sturgeon.
It then states that there remains an opportunity "to remedy this over the Parliament and commits to further discussions by all parties to seek to establish an enduring system of local government finance."
The Tories indicated that they would back the amendment, only to then vote against the full amended motion. Other opposition parties would also be likely to back the amendment, having supported a similar stance in September, leaving it likely to win majority support.
It would leave the SNP MSPs with a dilemma of having to either vote for the amended motion critical of Government policy and opening the door to further reform, despite ministers previously saying the SNP manifesto will be implemented in full, or scuppering their own party's proposals.
The SNP proposes keeping the council tax despite previously leading opposition to it, tweaking upper bands, ending a council tax freeze but imposing caps of three per cent rises on local authorities. The Scottish Government has said the policy will raise £100m for education, although concern has been raised that the cash will effectively be redistributed across the country by the back door, breaking a link between local taxpayers and services in their area.
Mr Wightman's amendment may be interpreted as a warning to the minority SNP administration that it will have to work with other parties to secure support for its budget. Green co-convenor Patrick Harvie has previously made clear that he will demand "significant moves" towards a more progressive tax policy if he is to back finance secretary Derek Mackay's spending plans.
Mr Wightman said: "I’m pleased that Parliament will actually debate the Statutory Instrument that enables the Scottish Government’s timid Council Tax changes. This Parliament provides the opportunity to transform local taxation to provide councils with greater fiscal autonomy and a modern, progressive and flexible system of local taxation. It is vital that all parties take this opportunity to deliver the change that the Commission on Local Tax Reform and the First Minister’s own Poverty and Inequality Adviser, Naomi Eisenstadt, have both advocated.
"The message that will come from Thursday’s vote will, I hope, be that this is unfinished business. The SNP must work with others and live up to the First Minister’s promise of an open and inclusive Government. Communities facing cuts deserve a fairer and more accountable system of local taxation, and as a Parliament we have the opportunity to make that happen."
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