NICOLA Sturgeon attempted to woo the Greens yesterday, promising Patrick Harvie a commitment to local tax reform.
During First Minister’s Questions, the SNP leader said she hoped for “productive discussions” before Holyrood comes to vote on Derek Mackay’s Budget.
Sturgeon leads a minority government, and needs the support of another party’s MSPs to get her spending plans through.
READ MORE: Patrick Harvie: SNP are anti-council tax – why haven’t they acted?
Yesterday, the First Minister said she thought the Greens would “be more likely to step up to the plate on this” than Labour.
Harvie blasted Mackay for failing to mention “fairer local taxation” in his Budget speech. He also accused the Finance Secretary of not being entirely upfront over money going to councils.
He said: “There was nothing about genuine steps towards a replacement for the broken, unfair council tax – which the Scottish Government claims that it wants to end – and nothing about new ideas to help councils to raise money in new ways to fund the services that are needed.”
Responding, the First Minister said she very much hoped that the SNP and the Green could “come to an agreement that sees a commitment made to local tax reform and a greater commitment to the devolution of tax powers to local authorities”.
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