Humza Yousaf's council tax freeze will save low income Scots 53p a week while the rich benefit

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Humza Yousaf’s council tax freeze will only save low income Scots 53p a week during the cost of living crisis.It will not pay for a pint of milk while wealthier families stand to benefit from a bigger cash gain.Ruth Boyle of the Poverty Alliance said: “The First Minister has stated that the central mission of this leadership is to tackle poverty.

The council tax freeze will do nothing to progress that mission.”The First Minister earlier this year consulted on plans to rejig the council tax system which would see people living in bigger houses paying more.A political backlash resulted in the rises being ditched and Yousaf announced a council tax freeze during the SNP conference.The Scottish Government will provide more details of the freeze when they publish their budget on Tuesday.Ahead of the crunch statement, experts at the Fraser of Allander Institute published research showing Ministers face a £1.5bn black hole.Part of this has been fuelled by the commitment to the freeze.The boffins have also provided a breakdown of who stands to benefit the most from the effective tax cut.According to FoAI, the freeze saves the wealthiest Scots £78 a year while the figure for those on the lowest incomes is £28 over twelve months.Scrapping the initial planned rises for better off households, coupled with a freeze, would save the poorest £78 a year but £223 for the richest.The figures are based on the Government providing funding for cancelling a council tax rise of 5pc.Yousaf is bracing himself for a negative reaction to the Budget as spending cuts are inevitable.He has said slashing child poverty is his priority but charities believe he will not deliver on a promised £30 a week Scottish Child Payment.Roz Foyer, STUC General