Margaret Beckett dislays her ignorance of the housing market
Posted on 7 December 2009 by
I watched the repeat of Question Time on BBC Parliament yesterday and two points in relation to the housing market in general and the Lib Dems’ revised proposals for a Mansion tax in particular struck me as being worth commenting on.
In response to a question about the Lib Dems’ proposed Mansion tax, Margaret Beckett, after saying she couldn’t believe the figure but would share it with us anyway, said that the Land Registry figures showed that there were only 86 properties worth over £2m.
It had to be pointed out to her that that the Land Registry figures were quoted in thousands and therefore one had to add three noughts to the figure.
It is not only pretty stupid to quote a figure on national television that you say you don’t believe, but in particular most people’s common sense would have told them that there must be more than 86 houses in the country worth more than £2m.
It is a damming indictment of this Government’s understanding of the housing market that someone who was Minister of State for Housing and Planning until as recently as 5 June this year has so little understanding of such a basic fact relating to the housing market.
The other rather amusing point was seeing Kirstie Allsop get the better of Vince Cable in the discussion on his Mansion tax.
Categories: Property market, House and home
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Murray says:
Point 2 - can anyone explain the logic to me of taxing people more because they live in the South East where property prices are excessive. People living in SE dont want to have to pay so much for their properties and are already being penalised on stamp duty land tax, mortgage payments and having to seek higher paid jobs (thus paying more in income tax) just to support these house prices. A "mansion tax" is fundementally wrong. Why cant we all be taxed on our income and capital gains and be done with it???
Derek says:
If I were in the SE I think I would have long grown tired of the excessive charges on absolutely everything. But then I've never earnt much :(
Murray Fraser says:
I totally agree with you. All three main parties are trying to appeal to the resentment of the masses to perceived wealth of others.
So far as living in SE is concerned, I like a lot of others would move elsewhere if it didnt mean tearing family away from family and friends.
I have a new tax idea that would more than fill the budget deficit - "The pointless Celebrity and Sportsman Tax" - Why dont we simply tax all those C D and E class celebrities and footballers who get paid more than anyone in their lifetime can ever spend? - Oh yes because the masses begrudge others earning large sums through business but are perfectly ok with celebrities and footballers earning considerably more with very little talent!
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