A POSSIBLE increase in council tax of as much as 22.5 per cent for some households has been slammed by the leader of the Conservative Group on East Lothian Council.

Councillor Lachlan Bruce’s criticism comes after the Scottish Government opened up a consultation proposing council tax rises of between 7.5 per cent and 22.5 per cent for those living in properties in bands E-H.

Those in band E would suffer 7.5 per cent rises, those in band F properties 12.5 per cent, band G residents 17.5 per cent, and band H 22.5 per cent.

Mr Bruce said: “These bombshell council tax rises being proposed will terrify local residents in East Lothian.

“Many are already grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, so increases of this scale would be a hammer blow to their personal and household finances.

“SNP-Green ministers are once again passing the buck to councils like East Lothian to make impossible decisions. On this occasion, it looks as though residents are set to pay the price with a huge hike in their council tax bills.

“I know how worried people in East Lothian are by these proposals and I’d urge everyone to make SNP-Green ministers aware of their concerns through their consultation.”

In response, Tom Arthur MSP, Public Finance Minister, said: “We have listened to calls for the council tax system to be made fairer, as presently more of the burden falls on those in the lower bands when considered as a proportion of the value of their property.

“Changes would only affect around a quarter of properties and even after they are taken into account, average council tax in Scotland would still be less than anywhere else in the UK.

“We know that many people are struggling with their finances and our council tax reduction scheme is there to ensure nobody has to pay a council tax bill they cannot be expected to afford, regardless of what band they are in.”

He encouraged people to complete the consultation before it closes on September 20 “to help us determine if [the proposals] should be taken forward”.