Forms of Flattery
Imitation - they say - is the sincerest form of flattery.
If so the UK Government in Westminster is paying the biggest compliment ever - to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh - with its announcement of council tax freeze in 2012 for England and Wales.
Now the government in Westminster is no more able than the government in Edinburgh - to impose a council tax freeze.
But local government finance is designed in such a way as to make this an offer of extra money that local councils can't refuse - without introducing huge local tax increases of their own - and thereby committing political suicide.
Which means that the council turkeys won't be voting for Christmas - anytime soon.
So we now have a Conservative/Lib Dem coaltion government at Westminster - following the same path as the SNP government at Holyrood - with Labour trailing along behind in everyone's wake.
In years gone by Labour would have been championing the cause of local democracy - for the right of local councils to set their own local taxes.
But Labour gave up that argument in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections - as they sought to outbid the SNP with promises of a council tax freeze - yet they were still trounced.
Where all this will lead is anyone's guess.
The normal conduct of politics - north and south of the border - is being stood completely on its head.
While everyone says they believe in local democracy - no one really wants to practice what they preach - for fear that local taxes go through the roof.
If so the UK Government in Westminster is paying the biggest compliment ever - to the Scottish Government in Edinburgh - with its announcement of council tax freeze in 2012 for England and Wales.
Now the government in Westminster is no more able than the government in Edinburgh - to impose a council tax freeze.
But local government finance is designed in such a way as to make this an offer of extra money that local councils can't refuse - without introducing huge local tax increases of their own - and thereby committing political suicide.
Which means that the council turkeys won't be voting for Christmas - anytime soon.
So we now have a Conservative/Lib Dem coaltion government at Westminster - following the same path as the SNP government at Holyrood - with Labour trailing along behind in everyone's wake.
In years gone by Labour would have been championing the cause of local democracy - for the right of local councils to set their own local taxes.
But Labour gave up that argument in the run up to the Scottish Parliament elections - as they sought to outbid the SNP with promises of a council tax freeze - yet they were still trounced.
Where all this will lead is anyone's guess.
The normal conduct of politics - north and south of the border - is being stood completely on its head.
While everyone says they believe in local democracy - no one really wants to practice what they preach - for fear that local taxes go through the roof.
