Local tax plan under fire

A LOTHIANS MSP has hit out at Alex Salmond's plans for a local income tax, saying the money would be better spent on employing 10,000 teachers.

Rhona Brankin, Labour's education spokeswoman, called on the Scottish Government to dump its "disastrous" plans for the new tax. The First Minister has said he will make £281 million available to fund the plans.

But Ms Brankin said the money should go to education. She said: "Alex Salmond has got his priorities badly wrong. If this money is available it could be put to far better use in our schools now."