Justice Secretary defends First Minister's council tax freeze pledge

Angela Constance told BBC Scotland that the move was designed to help households struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The MSP disputed suggestions the First Minister had “torn up” the Verity House Agreement but admitted she knew about the change in position in the days “leading up to” Yousaf’s speech at the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen.

However, local government body Cosla has previously accused the FM of choosing to “undermine the spirit and the letter” of the deal with councils with the policy announcement.

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Shona Morrison, Cosla leader, signed the agreement alongside Yousaf at the end of June, which promised there would be “improved engagement on budgetary matters” in the run-up to the Scottish budget in December.

Morrison previously said she was “extremely” disappointed that the FM chose not to inform council leaders of the decision ahead of his speech.

Cabinet Secretary Constance was challenged over the decision on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show.

Journalist Martin Geissler pointed out that the basis of the agreement was there would be “no surprises” for council leaders, but that the FM’s speech was “literally the opposite”.

Constance said: “What I have seen firsthand over the past few days is local and national government working hand in glove, and as we move from this emergency phase into the recovery phase, the response to extreme flooding that has been experienced in many parts of Scotland.”

Geissler pointed out that Cosla were “furious” at the move, and asked if Constance believed that the announcement was a mistake on Yousaf’s part.

“The First Minister has a duty to serve the people of Scotland and right now there is a cost of living crisis and his announcement will benefit two and a half million households in Scotland,” she said.

The presenter argued that the policy is a “rabbit out of the hat” and doesn’t actually save households that much money. The proposed freeze came after a consultation had considered increasing the charge by between 7.5% and 22.5% for the highest-value properties.

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“Well, I think I would beg to differ Martin,” Constance said.

“This will support two and a half million households at a time when everybody, irrespective of their income, is dealing with pressure associated with the cost of living.

“But I would also point to, in terms of balance, the Scottish government also has a commitment to increase investment in flooding by £150 million over the lifetime of this Parliament, there is currently £42 million per annum invested in the local government settlement to tackle flood risk and prevention.

“So we have a range of priorities and cost of living and climate change remain pivotal.”

Geissler also pressed Constance on when she was informed, as a member of Yousaf’s Cabinet, on the policy U-turn.

The Justice Secretary initially said she was out of the country but learned about it “before the announcement”.

After being repeatedly pressed on when, Constance said it was in the “days leading up to” the FM’s speech.

Geissler asked what the backlash said about Yousaf’s leadership, to which Constance said: “What it says about the First Minister’s leadership is that (he is) responding as much as he can despite UK Government austerity, that he is prepared to do everything within his powers to support people during a cost of living crisis.”

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Deputy First Minister Shona Robison previously said that the decision to freeze council tax was made too late for discussions with local councils ahead of Yousaf’s speech.

The FM defended the move after his speech, insisting it was “right” for the government to provide such help for people in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

However, Cosla president Morrison (below) said, following a meeting of council leaders on Friday, that they wanted to restate their “extreme disappointment that the First Minister chose to undermine the spirit and the letter of the Verity House Agreement, so soon after it being signed”.

“There was a feeling from leaders that the announcement on council tax is a serious breach of the agreement,” she said.

However, she said local authorities would not quit the deal as there was a belief amongst council leaders that “for the good of our communities and public services in Scotland, we should not walk away”.

And, Morrison stressed Cosla’s position was “that it is for individual councils alone to set the level of council tax locally without interference or penalties from Scottish Government”.