Dave Thompson MSP

Scottish Government plans for a new law to stop councils pursuing people for historic Poll Tax debts have been welcomed by Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch SNP MSP Dave Thompson, who raised concerns about this last week.

Following the referendum, and a record number of people being on the electoral roll, First Minister Alex Salmond said the roll should not be used by councils to chase Poll Tax debts – some of which are now over 20 years old.

The announcement follows fears that councils could use the details of the thousands who registered to vote in last month's referendum to recover outstanding debts.

Welcoming the news, and calling on local Labour MSPs Rhoda Grant and David Stewart to offer their support - and join Jackie Baillie MSP and Malcolm Chisholm MSP – by showing that they are ready to back what's best for your area and for all of Scotland, Mr Thompson said: "After 25 years, a line has finally been drawn under the deeply unfair and widely hated Poll Tax. The First Minister's announcement that Poll Tax debt in Scotland is to be 'dead and buried' once and for all is very welcome indeed.

"Scotland's campaign against the Poll Tax involved people from various parties and from no parties – now that this planned legislation will ensure it is forever dead and buried I have written to Labour MSPs Rhoda Grant and David Stewart and am looking forward to hearing that they too, like Jackie Baillie MSP and Malcolm Chisholm MSP will support plans to stop any pursuit of Poll Tax debt in Scotland.

"Last month People registered to vote – and they voted Yes and No in good faith - any attempt to use their details in this way would have been a wrongheaded breach of that faith.  

"Sadly the Tories seem to against this plan; from the Poll Tax to the Bedroom Tax they are still the same old Tories, no wonder they still lag so far behind and poll so badly in Scotland.

"But Labour MSPs backing for the plan to stop any pursuit of ancient debts sends out a signal that Scotland is united – regardless of political party ties – in delivering what is best for the people who live and work in Scotland."