Labour leadership candidate Cathy Jamieson today vowed to meet with Prime Minister Gordon Brown to safeguard hundreds of millions of pounds in council tax benefit.

Ms Jamieson backs a property-based system to replace the current system, but opposes Scottish Government plans for a local income tax.

The former justice minister said today that her first act as Labour leader at Holyrood would be to demand a meeting with Mr Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling to secure £400 million of annual council tax benefit which Westminster says would be lost under local tax.

Ms Jamieson said: "I'm fed up with Alex Salmond's megaphone diplomacy and his constant negative sniping.

"I want to fix the present system and replace it with a workable and equitable improvement.

"It may not be easy and others have struggled with this over the last few years but the SNP's unfair local income tax is not the answer."

Any solution must protect the council tax benefit cash, Ms Jamieson added.

"I don't want Scotland to lose this money and I won't gamble it just to have a pop at Westminster," she added.

"This needs a mature and sensible discussion not petty point scoring."

Ms Jamieson faces competition from ex-health minister Andy Kerr and former enterprise minister Iain Gray for the leadership.

They have both also indicated that they back an overhaul of the council tax.