In its latest Holyrood election manifesto the Scottish National Party has called again for the scrapping of council tax throughout Scotland.
Financing local services via an income tax of three pence in the pound would be much fairer, claims SNP Leader Alex Salmond who described the move as providing pensioners and most families with the "biggest tax cut in a generation".
In an interview with the media, SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon commented: "We want to abolish the council tax and replace it with a fairer system - a system that's based on ability to pay. We will invest £450m in that system, making it the biggest tax cut in a generation and independent experts have said that on average nine out of 10 people in Scotland will be better off."
In terms of the economy, the party plans to scrap business rates for 120,000 small firms and invest in renewable energy instead of nuclear sources. Mr Salmond described his manifesto as a programme to 'build SNP credibility in government ahead of an independence referendum in 2010'.
VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
