Salmond bid to block tax leak

Alex Salmond has gone to court to stop a newspaper revealing financial details of his plans to introduce a local income tax.

The Scottish Government's battle to block release of documents discussing the implications of the proposed tax dates back two years. Ministers refused a Freedom of information request from the Daily Telegraph in 2009, then applied to the Court of Session to stop information commissioner Kevin Dunion seeing the papers.

He finally saw the documents last month. He said the information would "contribute significantly to public understanding". But now Mr Salmond has lodged another appeal at the Court of Session, delaying any release until after the elections.

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: "What has he got to hide?"