THE Scottish TUC accused the SNP government of hypocrisy today as Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes called on local authorities to curb council tax hikes.

Ms Forbes made the remarks after a Local Government Information Unit survey showed 20 per cent of Scotland’s 32 councils plan to increase local taxes by 10 per cent or more, while the remainder plan hikes of 5 to 12 per cent to manage £265 million of “cost pressures.”

Accounts Commission chairwoman Jo Armstrong warned: “Scotland’s councils face a challenging future, with significant financial risks and uncertainties.