BACKLASH FROM COSLA AND UNIONS: 'Real anger' over council tax freeze

First Minister is accused of 'electioneering'

HUMZA Yousaf has been accused of "electioneering at its worst" after he used his SNP conference speech to announce a council tax freeze.

The First Minister faced a furious backlash from the STUC and local authority leaders over the sudden announcement.

Cosla, which represents the interests of Scotland's 32 councils, said there was "real anger" over Yousaf's statement.

The Scottish Government had been considering hiking council tax on the most expensive properties to try to plug the massive spending gap faced by town halls.

It comes as some local authorities consider shutting sports centres and selling off public venues to make ends meet.

Dave Moxham, deputy general secretary of the STUC, said: "What the First Minister didn't say is that we pay on average about £500 less per person up north than they do down south.