SNP Trumps Labour
Well the Labour party only has itself to blame.
Scottish leader Iain Gray got involved in a bidding war over the council tax - by only at the eleventh hour finally supporting the idea of a council tax freeze.
But Labour now finds itself 'trumped' by Alex Salmond and the SNP.
Because if Alex Salmond becomes the next First Minister - he has promised that an SNP government will freeze the council tax - for the lifetime of the next Scottish Parliament.
A full five years.
Now that will save the average voter a pretty penny or two - as it has done over the past four years.
So Labour now finds itself outmanoeuvred and flat-footed - as the election swings into full gear.
Because the SNP held off publishing its manifesto until today - which leaves Iain Gray no time to play catch up again - without looking completely ridiculous by making policy on the hoof.
Now there is a case to be made for councils having the freedom to put up local taxes - in an effort to improve public services.
But Labour has run away from making that argument - as it has done in many other policy areas - such as requiring students to make a contribution to the costs of their university education.
So instead of having strong views and clear policies of its own - Labour just ends up looking like a lightweight version of the SNP.
Will voters prefer Labour-lite - or the real thing in the shape of Alex Salmond and the SNP?
Who knows - but time will tell.
Scottish leader Iain Gray got involved in a bidding war over the council tax - by only at the eleventh hour finally supporting the idea of a council tax freeze.
But Labour now finds itself 'trumped' by Alex Salmond and the SNP.
Because if Alex Salmond becomes the next First Minister - he has promised that an SNP government will freeze the council tax - for the lifetime of the next Scottish Parliament.
A full five years.
Now that will save the average voter a pretty penny or two - as it has done over the past four years.
So Labour now finds itself outmanoeuvred and flat-footed - as the election swings into full gear.
Because the SNP held off publishing its manifesto until today - which leaves Iain Gray no time to play catch up again - without looking completely ridiculous by making policy on the hoof.
Now there is a case to be made for councils having the freedom to put up local taxes - in an effort to improve public services.
But Labour has run away from making that argument - as it has done in many other policy areas - such as requiring students to make a contribution to the costs of their university education.
So instead of having strong views and clear policies of its own - Labour just ends up looking like a lightweight version of the SNP.
Will voters prefer Labour-lite - or the real thing in the shape of Alex Salmond and the SNP?
Who knows - but time will tell.
