Time to end Labour dither on council tax

Commenting on remarks made by the Scottish Labour leader today in the Sunday Times where he admits that Labour's 2007 plans 'really didn't add up' and offers no alternative to the unfair council tax, SNP MSP Alex Neil, a member of the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee, said:
 
“It is an astonishing admission of failure from Iain Gray that Labour's plans for the council tax 'really didn't add up' and were made up 'on the back of a fag packet'.
 
"However he still offers no alternative to the unfair, discredited council tax. It seems dithering and indecisiveness are also becoming Iain Gray's hallmarks after only a few short weeks in the job.
 
"The SNP's proposals for a fair local income tax based on the ability to pay will mean that four out of five Scots households will be better off or as well off as at present. It's no wonder they are supported by a majority of people in Scotland.
 
"While Iain Gray and his hapless Labour colleagues dither, the SNP is pressing ahead with plans for a fairer local tax which will deliver the biggest tax cut in a generation.
 
Commenting on Jim Murphy’s admission on BBC’s The Politics Show that he doesn’t support protecting Scotland’s Council Tax Benefit money if another local government tax replaces the Council Tax, Mr Neil said:
 
“Jim Murphy says he wants to work with the Scottish Government to help Scotland’s interests.  However, he has immediately shown his true allegiance lies with helping the Treasury steal £400 million of money that belongs to Scotland.
 
“If Mr Murphy is serious about having a positive and constructive relationship with the Scottish Government, then he should accept the will of the Parliament that voted to retain Council Tax Benefit in Scotland when a new local taxation system replaces the deeply unpopular council tax.
 
“Cathy Jamieson supported the retention of Council Tax Benefit during her leadership campaign and four other Labour MSPs voted with the majority of parliamentarians to retain the money. Labour is split on the issue but it’s time their leadership realised their stance would be damaging to the people of Scotland.”