The hike in National Insurance payments has cost West Lothian Council an extra £8.8m in its wage bill.

At a meeting of the full council, SNP opposition group leader Councillor Janet Campbell branded the increase a “jobs tax” and raised a motion demanding the council write to Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking for its revoke.

The motion was passed after the Conservative group – also critics of the NI increase – refused to back a Labour amendment.

The council has agreed to “Write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and demand she removes the increase she made to Employers National Insurance – Labour’s Jobs Tax. This has removed circa £7M from West Lothian Council’s budget alone, not to mention the local Voluntary Sector, Police and Fire & Rescue services.”

Councillor

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