General Election - 4th July 2024

[aspieandy]

well, as above; you could do worse than reduce the moral stain on this country of unearned, undeserved, untaxed, aspiration destroying property wealth by revaluing and reforming council tax.

[Jan]

Jul 17, 2024 8:48:29 GMT aspieandy said:

King's speech today announcing the new government's objectives.

When talking to Labour, all through the campaign media wanted to focus on taxes, which was fair enough. I didn't understrand why they failed to see the hugest of huge elephants in that room, at least from what I saw and read. Maybe middle-class media liberals are a little uncomfortable talking about all their free money in public.

Must be quite nice enjoying the benefits of Tory policies while incurring none of the guilt of voting for them.

The most legit target is surely the magic money tree (the unstated key Conservative policy of guaranteed property inflation); unearned, undeserved, untaxed wealth (until downsizing, or death) that disenfranchises and makes a mockery of aspiration for young people who don't have access to family property wealth.

So the hugest of elephants for me is Council Tax, spcifically revaluation and reform - intentionally, something not done since 1991.

Imo, this route has several significant benefits, and the first year of the first term is the time to get it out of the way. Fingers crossed from me.

In this undated doc, the IFS said its piece - worth a read, imo >>>

ifs.org.uk/sites/default/files/output_url_files/Summary-Revaluation-and-reform-bringing-council-tax-in-England-into-the-21st-century.pdf

But revaluing properties on a 2024 basis instead of 1991 wouldn’t raise any extra tax at all because the council tax bands themselves would also have to be updated to a 2024 basis. All it would do, per the paper you linked, would be to make the distribution of council tax somewhat “fairer”.

[aspieandy]

I'd likely agree with you if it was just revaluation but there would also have to be reform. So, possibly increasing the number of bands, tinkrering with the ratios, what to do about the rise of buy to lets, second and further homes, airbnbs, overseas investors buying up half a new build block at a time and leaving it empty .. guaranteed property inflation has created plenty of new dynamics since the early 90s.

The core though, imo, is bands and ratios.

[Phantom of London]

Sorry to bring this up again, as I know for some it maybe……..

Anyway I’m in Stratford after seeing Othello and in dawned on me that the 3 biggest producing houses outside London are, Stratford, Chichester and Bath and all three Liberal Democrat seats now, take from that what you will.

[lynette]

Oct 19, 2024 16:24:12 GMT Phantom of London said:

Sorry to bring this up again, as I know for some it maybe……..

Anyway I’m in Stratford after seeing Othello and in dawned on me that the 3 biggest producing houses outside London are, Stratford, Chichester and Bath and all three Liberal Democrat seats now, take from that what you will.

You mean the locals couldn’t bear to vote for Con or Lab but know they have to vote. 

[Deleted]

Oct 19, 2024 16:24:12 GMT Phantom of London said:

Sorry to bring this up again, as I know for some it maybe……..

Anyway I’m in Stratford after seeing Othello and in dawned on me that the 3 biggest producing houses outside London are, Stratford, Chichester and Bath and all three Liberal Democrat seats now, take from that what you will.

Not a lot really as Chichester has been conservative for years up until this election.

[Phantom of London]

Not really making a point other than the Liberal Democrat’s have done very well to have a mps in the constituencies of 3 of the biggest producing houses. It got me thinking we used to have someone who was very knowledgeable on here and is a Liberal Democrat member, kind of miss his input.

[TallPaul]

There are a couple of theatres in Yorkshire that will be surprised to learn they've been demoted below Bath!

[duncan]

Like the Lib Dems, the poster clearly has no viewpoint outside the South of that there England.

[aspieandy]

New Lab about to resuscitate HS2 - well, as far as Crewe (for now) - so up norf in thoughts and prayers.

[BurlyBeaR]

So we go high speed to Crewe then trundle along on the old line through Cheshire with all of the other services. Totally pointless. What is wrong with this country when it comes to high speed rail travel? Total lack of ambition.

[aspieandy]

Likely to do with Covid bill of £90 billion a year in interest.

HS2 will come (rebranded or not), you just can't put it all on the spreadsheet without markets having a Truss wobble.

Economically iliiterate to not build it.

[parsley1]

Quote of the week from the PM

“He said he thought of a working person as someone who “goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque" and who can't "write a cheque to get out of difficulties".
Speaking afterwards, his spokesman sought to clarify that those with a "small amount of savings" could still be defined as working people”

I wonder if the PM and MPs are “working people”

He really is a rudderless loser

[aspieandy]

Jul 17, 2024 11:03:14 GMT aspieandy said:

well, as above; you could do worse than reduce the moral stain on this country of unearned, undeserved, untaxed, aspiration destroying property wealth by revaluing and reforming council tax.

Bumping this up. Hi @jan

We are SO back >>>

Minister hints at council tax shake-up that would hit owners of large homes

Matthew Pennycook also refuses to rule out wholesale revaluation, which could lead to people paying more for extended homes

Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, was asked in the Commons whether the Government would consider imposing extra council tax bands on larger properties.

He said such matters would be considered as part of the local government finance settlement, expected in January.

He also refused to rule out a wholesale revaluation of people’s homes, which could see people paying more if they have extended their houses or made other improvements.

Mr Pennycook also failed to dismiss the prospect of replacing council tax with an annual tax based on a percentage of a property’s value.

It comes a day after Downing Street announced it would allow local authorities to put up council tax by five per cent next year. Such a move would add around £109 to the bill of the average Band D property.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/14/minister-hints-council-tax-shake-up-hit-large-home-owners/

Use this to overcome the paywall : 12ft.io/

[theglenbucklaird]

Nov 14, 2024 16:54:41 GMT aspieandy said:

Jul 17, 2024 11:03:14 GMT aspieandy said:

well, as above; you could do worse than reduce the moral stain on this country of unearned, undeserved, untaxed, aspiration destroying property wealth by revaluing and reforming council tax.

Bumping this up. Hi @jan

We are SO back >>>

Minister hints at council tax shake-up that would hit owners of large homes

Matthew Pennycook also refuses to rule out wholesale revaluation, which could lead to people paying more for extended homes

Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, was asked in the Commons whether the Government would consider imposing extra council tax bands on larger properties.

He said such matters would be considered as part of the local government finance settlement, expected in January.

He also refused to rule out a wholesale revaluation of people’s homes, which could see people paying more if they have extended their houses or made other improvements.

Mr Pennycook also failed to dismiss the prospect of replacing council tax with an annual tax based on a percentage of a property’s value.

It comes a day after Downing Street announced it would allow local authorities to put up council tax by five per cent next year. Such a move would add around £109 to the bill of the average Band D property.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/14/minister-hints-council-tax-shake-up-hit-large-home-owners/

Use this to overcome the paywall : 12ft.io/

Long overdue a recalibration, no?

[aspieandy]

Last one was pre-Blair/Brown (who kind of forgot to do it for 13 years as they went after property owning swing votes).