Scots back plans to scrap unfair council tax

More than half of Scots want to scrap the council tax and replace it with a local income tax, according to a new poll for the Daily Telegraph.

The YouGov poll shows that 55 per cent of voters support introducing a local income tax, with only 28 per cent opposed.

The SNP today welcomed the findings of the Daily Telegraph survey.

Finance secretary John Swinney said:

“The poll shows resounding support for a fair local income tax based on the ability to pay, with a two to one majority in favour of scrapping the unfair council tax.”

"Under the Scottish Government's policy - which would deliver lower as well as fairer local tax - on average all family groups, particularly pensioners, would be better off, with only the top 10% paying more according to their ability to pay. Low and middle income earners will be better off with LIT.

"The concerted campaign and unholy alliance of Labour and the Tories to keep the discredited Council Tax has been a monumental flop.

"Most Tory voters are actually in favour of local income tax, and only a minority of Labour voters support the Council Tax.

"The challenge for the Government is to translate the overwhelming majority in the country for scrapping council tax in favour of local income tax into a Scottish parliamentary majority."

The poll question and answer is as follows:

As regards the debate in Scotland about whether council tax should be replaced by a local income tax, which of these statements comes closer to your view?

A local income tax should be introduced because such a tax, being based on individuals' ability to pay rather than on the value of their property would be fairer than council tax - 55%

A local income tax should not be introduced because such a tax would be paid by most individuals and would thereby increase the tax burden on large households irrespective of the value of their property - 28%

Not sure - 17%