COUNCILS in Scotland face a crisis due to austerity measures from SNP-run Holyrood, Scottish Labour said yesterday as it set out its stall for local elections in May.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was accused by Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley of becoming “the nation’s minister for cuts” ahead of the latter’s campaign launch in Edinburgh today.

The SNP government announced it would slash £327 million from council services this year. Opposition parties have warned this would force councils to implement a supposedly discretionary increase in council tax of up to 3 per cent next April on top of the compulsory rise.