THE infighting in Scottish Labour has weakened cross-party efforts to find a fairer replacement for the council tax.

Labour had been represented on the Commission on Local Tax Reform, which was set up in February, by Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley.

He resigned his position as shadow local government spokesman in protest at Jim Murphy's refusal to step down as party leader immediately after May 7.

It emerged yesterday that Rowley will not be replaced on the Commission until after Scottish Labour has a new leader, possibly in September.

However the Commission is due to work over the summer and report in August.

The Scottish Conservatives have already refused to take part in the exercise.

Labour council leader Rhondda Geekie, of East Dunbartonshire, remains on the Commission but local government sources fear Rowley's exit will damage its credibility.

Nicola Sturgeon announced the Commission after she became First Minister last year.