Thank goodness the SNP / Lib Dem Local Income Tax received such a terrible reception that it looks dead in the water. It would have hammered the Borders.
Economically, anyone with a choice between Scotland and England as a place to hire staff or start a business would have gone South. Some people were even considering moving their domicile across the Border, and our region would have been affected most of all.
Second, it would have been a disaster for local democracy. Scottish Borders Council may be wasteful, but at least there is some kind of financial accoutnability to its electorate. Bad government becomes worse government very quickly if it doesn't have to pay its way.
Finally - awful for the environment. The LIT would have removed any financial incentive to live in a smaller home, increasing the housing squeeze on working families and thus the pressure for more development. And any green schemes to replace council tax with charges for, say, rubbish collection or road use would have been impossible.
So a lucky escape. What will they think of next?
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Tom, your point about people downsizing is something that no media commentators see, to have picked up on.It seems that the SNP have gone for a headline grabbing idea which plays well against the old scourge of the poll tax crew without thinking through the arguments.
It's fascinating that the SNP want autonomy but seem to resist all demands for Scottish local autonomy.
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