Scots Labour leader Gray promises council tax freeze

Iain Gray Iain Gray said his party would freeze council tax in Scotland for two years if he won power
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Scottish Labour has pledged to freeze council tax for the next two years, matching the SNP commitment.

The party's Holyrood leader Iain Gray said "now is not the time to increase the burden on household budgets".

The announcement marks an apparent change of direction for the party, as Mr Gray had previously indicated he would cap council tax rises if he won May's Scottish Parliament election.

The SNP has frozen council tax since coming to power in 2007.

It has also vowed to continue the policy beyond the next election if the party retained power at Holyrood.

Meanwhile, Mr Gray said the new policy would not result in frontline services suffering.

He said: "We are saying that Labour will freeze the council tax for the year ahead and the following year because now is just not the time to make big changes in the local tax base."
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