The SNP have made much of their proposed five year freeze on Council Tax. For many households struggling to pay bills, this freeze will be welcome news - a few quid saved at the end of each month.
But does freezing the Council Tax really help to tackle the huge inequalities in Scotland? Does it help councils to deliver vital services to our communities?
No - instead a Council Tax freeze actually benefits high earners in high-value properties the most, as this article from the Herald explains.
The SSP believe that the Council Tax should be scrapped, not frozen. Freezing the Council Tax doesn't tackle the inequalities in the system, which mean that the Duke of Argyll, the owner of Inveraray Castle, pays £2,356 a year, while a low paid worker on his estates would pay at least £785, even in the smallest Band A property.
The SSP proposes a Scottish Service Tax based on ability to pay, not where you live. Those who earn less than £11,000 a year would pay nothing, while the Duke of Argyll and his ilk would pay their fare share towards local services. A tax on the wealthy - earnings over £90,000 a year would be taxed at 20% - would mean an extra £1.4 billion for public services, while the vast majority of ordinary households would pay less.
Doesn't that sound better than a five year freeze, with school closures, cuts to libraries, children's services, day centres for elderly people, sports facilities and all the other essential services that our Councils provide?
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