SCOTSMAN CHOPS WENDY ALEXANDER/PETER MACMAHON LETTER

Well the Scotsman printed my letter:



No comparison to be made


Peter MacMahon attempts to compare the illegal donation to Wendy Alexander's leadership campaign with Professor David Bell's research that some council tax payers might lose pennies on their benefits if the SNP's council tax freeze goes ahead (Opinion, 4 December).


If there are no increases in council tax then common sense indicates that all tax payers will be better off than if there had been an increase.


If your council tax is currently paid by benefits agencies then you will see no difference in your income whatsoever.


If the government pays out slightly less council tax relief then this is a saving of pennies for the government not a serious hit on the incomes of low earners and it is quite frankly an insult to suggest otherwise.


JOE MIDDLETON
Wardieburn Place South
Edinburgh




http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/letters.cfm?id=1901652007



Sadly they chopped all the decent bits, full version is below:



Come on, come off it!


Sir,


I know Peter MacMahon is an ex-Labour party spin doctor but his latest attempt to spin Labour out of difficulty beggars belief 'SNP in no position to claim moral high ground' Scotsman 04/12.
MacMahon attempts to compare the illegal donation to Wendy Alexander's leadership campaign with the Scotsman's research that some council tax payers might lose pennies on their benefits if the SNP's council tax freeze goes ahead.


If there are no increases in Council Tax then common sense indicates that all tax payers will be better off than if there had been an increase. If your council tax is currently paid by benefits agencies then you will see no difference in your income whatsoever.


If the Government pays out slightly less Council Tax relief then this is a saving of pennies for the Government not a serious hit on the incomes of low earners and it is quite frankly an insult to suggest otherwise.


Mr MacMahon's new found concern about the pennies of the under classes is as unconvincing as Ms Alexander's explanations that she didn't know her donor was off shore despite writing to him at his home address!


Yours faithfully,


Joe Middleton