SNP conference: Humza Yousaf announces Scottish council tax freeze

Council tax rates are to be frozen across Scotland, First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced.

The SNP leader made the announcement during his closing speech at his party's conference in Aberdeen.

The Scottish government had previously proposed raising council tax rates by as much as 22.5% for homes in higher bands.

But Mr Yousaf has pledged they will remain at the current levels when councils set their budgets for 2024-25.

He described the proposed freeze as evidence of "the SNP delivering for people when they need it most".

Mr Yousaf also said his government would spend an additional £300m on tackling NHS waiting lists in the next three years and raise arts and culture funding by £100m over the next five years.

The first minister, whose has family members are trapped in Gaza, called on the UK government to create a refugee resettlement scheme for those caught up in the conflict.

He said Scotland would be "willing to be the first country in the UK to offer safety and sanctuary to those caught up in these terrible attacks".

He condemned the Hamas attack in Israel and the "collective punishment" of people in Gaza and called for the UK government to support medical evacuations of injured civilians from Gaza.

The tearful Mr Yousaf issued an emotional call for unity as he said there was "no room" for hatred of any kind in Scotland.

Following the SNP's heavy defeat to Labour in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, the first minister told party members they could "either spend time feeling sorry for ourselves", or "roll up our sleeves and work harder than ever before for the people of Scotland".

The first minister also announced a pilot scheme for £1,000 to be given to domestic abuse survivors fleeing their partners as part of a £500,000 "fund to leave" which will be distributed to Women's Aid groups for pilot schemes in Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Fife.

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