THE SNP council group leader Elizabeth Robertson has welcomed the news that a Labour-proposed tax rise in Inverclyde is being cancelled out.

A last-minute rebate agreement between the local authority and Scottish Government means householders will be shielded from a controversial 8.2 per cent rise in rates and benefit from a freeze instead.

Councillor Robertson said: "This incredible plan to hike bills during a cost-of-living crisis has now been soundly defeated.

"What Labour and its backers could not answer was why rejecting investment of £2.9 million from the Scottish Government would work for Inverclyde.

"Labour's self-inflicted council tax fiasco reflected poorly on Inverclyde in contrast to other local authorities.

"The money from the Scottish Government was available at the time we were setting our budgets, and all sensible councils the length and breadth of Scotland accepted it.

"The people of Inverclyde were rightly incredulous over this plan and made their opposition known.

"This more than anything has resulted in Labour's climbdown and is a victory for reason over political spin."