Well its about time the council tax was ‘done in’

Nicol Stephens is calling on the SNP (Scottish Nationalists) to work together with the Liberal Democrats and dump the unfair council tax once and for all.

 Don’t get too excited though.  If this agreement (which hasn’t yet been agreed!) goes ahead only Scotland will get the benefits. 

I’m not going to moan because I believe in devolution and the transfer of decision making downwards to the lowest practical level. 

 On that point I should say that some Tories and Labourites (well I can’t call them socialists anymore can I?) and indeed UKIP believe that develuton means giving more powers to the centre (’Brussells!)  Utter rubbish!…double speak and newthink!

I want Westminster to do less than it does now but I want powers drawn down to Regional, Local and Neighbourhood levels… Indeed some powers that the EU currently have should come back but not to those C**ks in The house of Commons!

What does that mean for Stroud? local tax raised locally and on the ability to pay.  More Planning decisions taken locally.  (stop those Nuke Plants) more powers for the parish councils… and maybe sub-parish bodies set up for concerned residents … The Liberal Democrats in Stroud have argued for local devolved solutions for many years. 

So Let the Scots have their fairer taxes, and let us learn from their example and build a new kind of partnership across the spectrum of politics and get the right things done…