Taxing questions for SNP

Don't do as I do, do as I say, may be a useful maxim for bossy parents but it rarely works in politics. The Scottish National Party talks a lot about transferring fiscal autonomy and devolving political decision-making, but at the same time the new Scottish Executive seems intent on denying such things to local communities. This seems a strange non sequitur at a time when the SNP holds more of the reins in local government than ever before.