Aberdeenshire Council’s ruling SNP group has been challenged to put North-east residents before “the party in Edinburgh” as the row over proposed changes to council tax deepens.

Under government plans, homeowners in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will hand over £47m in local government tax rises – money which will be spent on services elsewhere in the country. Opposition politicians have reacted angrily to the proposals, which include increased bills for people living in band E-H homes.

However, according to the Press and Journal council leader Richard Thomson of the SNP said: “The council tax reforms will make the tax more progressive by leaving lower earners in band A-D houses untouched while raising an additional £100m to improve educational attainment right across Scotland.”

He also added: “We will be making sure… that the case is made for extra resources go to where they are most needed in Aberdeenshire as well.”

Hmm.