Holyrood '16 polls and predictions

[Dunning1874]

I appreciate the point about the SNP doing things gradually rather than making a huge radical change which could upset people and risk losing support, but if the changes they're going to make are this minor then why didn't they do this in 2011 rather than wasting another five years on the freeze, making no progress whatsoever?

I obviously knew they wouldn't go for something as radical as a full-blown LVT, but the fact that all we're getting in that regard is yet another consultation which'll probably just be a lip service 'we'll look at these proposals carefully again in the future' exercise is disappointing.

[Fotbawmad]

Tax the rich? I've never heard of that policy before

What you have to realize is there is a bell curve when it comes to raising taxes. Increasing rates does not necessarily mean getting more revenue. From the many conversations I've had with people over the years. The council tax is the one issue that causes the most distress. I can't disagree with anyone who thinks it's extortionate as it is. I think trying to raise it during such harsh economic times is taking the piss.

[Baxter Parp]

Tax the rich? I've never heard of that policy before

What you have to realize is there is a bell curve when it comes to raising taxes. Increasing rates does not necessarily mean getting more revenue. From the many conversations I've had with people over the years. The council tax is the one issue that causes the most distress. I can't disagree with anyone who thinks it's extortionate as it is. I think trying to raise it during such harsh economic times is taking the piss.

Wind in the bleeding heart, 75% of folk won't pay any more.

[DeeTillEhDeh]

This is just tinkering with the issue. Those on low-incomes will be unaffected as they don't pay anything. Those at the top will not even notice. It's those in the middle - yet again - who will probably notice it more.

A missed opportunity.

[Alan Stubbs]

I'm also of the mind to hope Sturgeon is a bit more radical in her first full term.

Even if we just get a post fiscal framework progressive tax policy, it will prove once and for all that they're the only remotely electable party in Scotland. Labour, in their utter desperation to greet about SNP austerity, would've had low earners taxed more and the Tories would've had us £7bn worse off.

The SNP on the other hand held their ground and could call both of their bluffs before the election. If they do produce a penny for the cooncil gazumping policy, Sturgeon better bring her own mic to the leaders debates so she can drop it.

[ddfg]

After saving for years I've just bought a band E house which resulted in a larger council tax bill which I accepted as part of moving, now I will have an extra bill on top of what I was expecting, strange thing is my income is still the same as it was before I moved. How does that work?

Why don't we raise the expectation level on the preparedness with which parents will present their children on their first day of school and maybe we could be reducing the money spent on education rather than throwing good money after bad, trying to repair the damage of five years of parental ineptitude. We could then focus on excellence rather than keeping mediocrity at bay.

The bonus for trying to better my family circumstances is to pay more than if I hadn't bothered, cheers Nicola, much appreciated.

[doulikefish]

After saving for years I've just bought a band E house which resulted in a larger council tax bill which I accepted as part of moving, now I will have an extra bill on top of what I was expecting, strange thing is my income is still the same as it was before I moved. How does that work?

Why don't we raise the expectation level on the preparedness with which parents will present their children on their first day of school and maybe we could be reducing the money spent on education rather than throwing good money after bad, trying to repair the damage of five years of parental ineptitude. We could then focus on excellence rather than keeping mediocrity at bay.

The bonus for trying to better my family circumstances is to pay more than if I hadn't bothered, cheers Nicola, much appreciated.

Its not until 2017 so no you dont have an extra bill

[Fudge]

After saving for years I've just bought a band E house which resulted in a larger council tax bill which I accepted as part of moving, now I will have an extra bill on top of what I was expecting, strange thing is my income is still the same as it was before I moved. How does that work?

Why don't we raise the expectation level on the preparedness with which parents will present their children on their first day of school and maybe we could be reducing the money spent on education rather than throwing good money after bad, trying to repair the damage of five years of parental ineptitude. We could then focus on excellence rather than keeping mediocrity at bay.

The bonus for trying to better my family circumstances is to pay more than if I hadn't bothered, cheers Nicola, much appreciated.

I own an E band flat in Glasgow and although it's not exactly a 4 bed mansion in Downhill, it proves I was approved for and can pay a mortgage on a moderately expensive flat. I am happy to pay a little more because my choice of flat /house suggests I can afford to.

Buying a property and not being able to absorb a very small increase in council tax or any household bills is financially negligent.

[Glen Sannox]

A tax on aspirations, my what a surprise! SNP Socialism at its best! The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of someone else's money.

Or maybe it's to plug the £8 billion hole that they are in denial about. Regardless, I'm sure they'll find a way of blaming the English.

Sent from my iPhone using Pie & Bovril mobile app

[Antlion]

Glen Minter-Thatcher, playing to the gallery. What a desperately sad hobby.

[Crossbill]

If you are genuinely low paid and cannot afford the extra £10 a month that will likely go on a band E property, you will be able to get a rebate for the extra.

However, if this is the case, you are also the sort of complete fuckwit that precipitated the subprime crisis, buying stuff you cannot really afford.

[MotownClic]

After saving for years I've just bought a band E house which resulted in a larger council tax bill which I accepted as part of moving, now I will have an extra bill on top of what I was expecting, strange thing is my income is still the same as it was before I moved. How does that work?

Why don't we raise the expectation level on the preparedness with which parents will present their children on their first day of school and maybe we could be reducing the money spent on education rather than throwing good money after bad, trying to repair the damage of five years of parental ineptitude. We could then focus on excellence rather than keeping mediocrity at bay.

The bonus for trying to better my family circumstances is to pay more than if I hadn't bothered, cheers Nicola, much appreciated.

How are you going to get by when the artificially low interest rates invariably rise? I'm not sure you should have bothered tbh

[Antlion]

Ken (multiple failure) McIntosh demands an apology from the SNP for keeping the "unfair, punitive council tax" in 2007, which he voted against them abolishing.

Just DIE, Labour. You're scum.

[Antlion]

McIntosh: "Income tax is a volatile source of revenue, it goes up and down, and we cannot rely on this volatile and unstable source of revenue."

Surprised the little rat wasn't arguing that the forthcoming income tax powers should be halted because we need the broad shoulders of Wesrminster to manage all income tax.

[Ad Lib]

After saving for years I've just bought a band E house which resulted in a larger council tax bill which I accepted as part of moving, now I will have an extra bill on top of what I was expecting, strange thing is my income is still the same as it was before I moved. How does that work?

Why don't we raise the expectation level on the preparedness with which parents will present their children on their first day of school and maybe we could be reducing the money spent on education rather than throwing good money after bad, trying to repair the damage of five years of parental ineptitude. We could then focus on excellence rather than keeping mediocrity at bay.

The bonus for trying to better my family circumstances is to pay more than if I hadn't bothered, cheers Nicola, much appreciated.

If you don't have the flexibility to absorb a monthly outgoings hike of, say, £50-100, then you shouldn't be up-sizing your home and committing to as big a mortgage.

[pandarilla]

A tax on aspirations, my what a surprise! SNP Socialism at its best! The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of someone else's money.

Or maybe it's to plug the £8 billion hole that they are in denial about. Regardless, I'm sure they'll find a way of blaming the English.

Sent from my iPhone using Pie & Bovril mobile app

The snp are quite far from socialism. But don't let reason and sense get in the way of your angry dribblings.

[Gordon EF]

After saving for years I've just bought a band E house which resulted in a larger council tax bill which I accepted as part of moving, now I will have an extra bill on top of what I was expecting, strange thing is my income is still the same as it was before I moved. How does that work?

Why don't we raise the expectation level on the preparedness with which parents will present their children on their first day of school and maybe we could be reducing the money spent on education rather than throwing good money after bad, trying to repair the damage of five years of parental ineptitude. We could then focus on excellence rather than keeping mediocrity at bay.

The bonus for trying to better my family circumstances is to pay more than if I hadn't bothered, cheers Nicola, much appreciated.

Jesus wept.

[lichtgilphead]

If you don't have the flexibility to absorb a monthly outgoings hike of, say, £50-100, then you shouldn't be up-sizing your home and committing to as big a mortgage.

In general terms and as a rule of thumb, I agree with your point.

However, I would point out that the average band E council tax bill would only rise by approximately £105 per year under the plans announced today, and would be capped at 3% per year thereafter.

That's only £8.75 per month - nowhere near the £50-£100 you appear to suggest.

Figures taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35702374

The average annual increase in council tax as a result of the band adjustments announced by Ms Sturgeon will be:

• band E - £105
• band F - £207
• band G - £335
• band H - £517

[Ad Lib]

In general terms and as a rule of thumb, I agree with your point.

However, I would point out that the average band E council tax bill would only rise by approximately £105 per year under the plans announced today, and would be capped at 3% per year thereafter.

That's only £8.75 per month - nowhere near the £50-£100 you appear to suggest.

Figures taken from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35702374

The average annual increase in council tax as a result of the band adjustments announced by Ms Sturgeon will be:

• band E - £105
• band F - £207
• band G - £335
• band H - £517

That merely accentuates my point. I wasn't suggesting that's the extent of the rise. Quite the contrary. I was suggesting you should have a much bigger buffer.

[lichtgilphead]

That merely accentuates my point. I wasn't suggesting that's the extent of the rise. Quite the contrary. I was suggesting you should have a much bigger buffer.

Yeah, that's why I started off by saying that your point was a good rule of thumb.

However, some contributors to the board might have thought that you meant that the band E council tax was rising by that amount. I was trying to reassure ddfg that his actual council tax rise would be somewhere around £2 per week.