The Stupid Party
The Conservative Party introduced the Council Tax in 1991-1993 after the ruinous fiasco of the Poll Tax. It was a property tax loosely based on the value of your home in 1991.Today Michael Howard has taken time off musing about the potential for race riots to say that he won't implement a revaluation of the property prices. This can only be for two reasons:
1) He no longer wants the council tax to be related to the value of your home
2) He thinks that 1991 valuations are more accurate than modern ones
There is nothing sensible about this at all*. On the latter explanation, even if a Conservative government does lead us back to 15% mortgage rates there is no chance of house prices falling back to 1991 levels. On the first it's sheer opportunist electioneering, particularly given he offers no alternative policies.
Many people have pointed out that Howard is a reasonable opposition politician, good at raving about the threat from foreigners, disease, Europe, gypsies, and not very good at coming up with policies for government.
* I have a personal interest in the Conservative plan given I live in an area that has had nearly the highest house price inflation nationwide since 1991. But even so it remains the politics of the Stupid.
posted by Matthew @ 4/20/2005 07:35:00 AM
Comments: 0
