A Holyrood vote on controversial council tax reforms descended into farce amid confusion over whether the Scottish Labour leader voted.
Kezia Dugdale insisted she voted against the SNP Government’s plans – but her decision was not registered by the parliament.
It meant the SNP Government avoided a bruising defeat over their changes to council tax, which have been criticised for failing to fix flaws with the system.
The Scottish Parliament said there is nothing wrong with the voting system.
Ms Dugdale’s vote would have effectively been the deciding one in defeating the Scottish Government.
Scottish Labour business manager James Kelly said: “Every Scottish Labour MSP voted against the government today. We have complained to the parliamentary authorities.”
The SNP’s George Adam mocked “lone ranger” Ms Dugdale for not voting with her own party, who had joined forces with the Tories.
“This is truly astonishing behaviour from Labour – kowtowing to the Tories rather than working in Scotland’s interests towards further improvements to make local taxation fairer,” he said.
The SNP have been heavily criticised for “tinkering” with council tax rather than replacing it with a fairer system.
Despite the shenanigans over the vote, the Scottish Conservatives urged the SNP to reconsider their plans.
A party spokesman said: “Notwithstanding the confusion over Kezia Dugdale’s vote, the SNP has been sent a very clear signal that it must rethink its council tax plans.”
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrats leader, said: “It is now abundantly clear that there is no majority in the Parliament for the SNP’s reforms.”
A Scottish Parliament spokesman said: “We have checked the voting consoles in the chamber. We are satisfied that the system is working properly.”
