Jamieson to demand showdown over council tax

Published on Tuesday 19 August 2008 13:46

LABOUR leadership contender Cathy Jamieson today said her first act if she wins the post will be to demand a meeting with Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling over Scotland's £400 million of council tax benefits.

The cash is a major bone of contention between the SNP government and Westminster, with UK ministers warning that Nationalist plans for a local income tax would mean withdrawal of the money.

Her comments come on the day a new ICM poll for The Guardian showed Labour lagging 15 per cent behind the Tories with 29 per cent to their 44 per cent and the Lib Dems on 19 per cent.

Mr Brown's personal ratings were even worse, with just 21 per cent saying they would rather have him as prime minister than the Conservative leader, who was backed by 42 per cent.

Ms Jamieson said today: "I'm fed up with Alex Salmond's megaphone diplomacy and his constant negative sniping. I want to fix the present system and replace it with a workable and equitable improvement.

"Any solution must guarantee we protect and retain the 400m council tax rebate. I don't want Scotland to lose this money and I won't gamble it just to have a pop at Westminster. This needs a mature and sensible discussion."