A BID to give more power over business rates to Clydebank has been condemned by the SNP.

Gil Paterson MSP hit out at a Scottish Greens amendment at the Scottish Parliament to take power away from ministers to set rates poundage.

He blamed “Tory and Labour MSPs” for backing the idea, claiming West Dunbartonshire small businesses would lose out on more than £4million in relief.

But the Greens fired back that the SNP were more interested in “hoarding power”.

Green MSP Andy Wightman made the amendment to the Non-Domestic Rates Bill at the parliament’s local government committee. Only the SNP opposed it.

Ross Greer MSP told the Post: “Business rates are collected by West Dunbartonshire Council and spent on services in West Dunbartonshire, so it’s astonishing that the SNP think they should be set in Edinburgh.

“Centralising the power to set rates is a Tory policy from the 90s, one which even the Tories themselves have changed their tune on.

“This Green proposal will empower communities to set policies which suit local needs and fund essential local services like schools and social care. The SNP seem more interested in hoarding power with their ministers in Edinburgh, which I frankly don’t understand at all.”

Read more: Problems with benefits dominate West Dunbartonshire enquiries to Citizens Advice Scotland

Mr Paterson said business leaders have raised concerns about the Green amendment impacting on costs and deterring investment.

He said: “Businesses in Clydebank need an escape from Brexit, they don’t need unnecessary extra costs.

“The Scottish Government offers the most generous package of business rates reliefs anywhere in the UK, worth nearly £750m to Scottish business.

“Astonishingly, Tory and Labour MSPs have voted to withdraw nearly £300m of relief in a move that would devastate Scottish business.

“More than 100,000 businesses across Scotland – and 1,470 in West Dunbartonshire – benefit from the Scottish Government’s Small Business Bonus. That would disappear, alongside other reliefs affecting including support for nurseries, under the proposals being forced through by opposition parties.

“These plans would deliver a body blow to Clydebank businesses. The opposition’s economic credibility was already in tatters, but this is just reckless.”