NICOLA STURGEON declined to rule out increasing council tax and water charges for single-person households yesterday.

At First Minister’s Questions, Labour MSP Jackie Baillie asked if Ms Sturgeon would commit to keeping the 25 per cent discount, which currently applies to one-person residences.

She said a consultation over whether state-owned Scottish Water would scrap the rebate would be received as “the thin end of the wedge” by struggling pensioners entitled to it.