Salmond urged to axe local tax plan

Sep 25 2008

Labour challenged Alex Salmond to dump his "damaging" local income tax plans in a bid to persuade Lloyds TSB to keep headquarters functions in Scotland after the HBOS takeover.

The challenge was issued by Labour leader Iain Gray at First Minister's Questions in Holyrood. Mr Gray said: "There is a consensus which says this proposal damages the case for keeping that headquarters here. I ask the First Minister to join that consensus and show he is serious about that case."

But Mr Salmond retorted: "The consensus of the Scottish people is that they want fairer and local tax. It will benefit the vast majority of families in Scotland - and benefit the vast majority of workers in the financial sector.