Forum Topic

Why don't Labour want to discuss their own manifesto?

This is just one issue that I have sent questions about and not had a reply.With apologies and thanks to the poster who I have pasted this from ( for speed) but it is checked & accurate.It's bad enough with Tories being less than clear about how and who will lose out but it seems Labour are being just as shifty. And yet it's there clearly printed in the manifesto.So why won't anyone discuss it/ It will affect almost every home owner in Brentford, Chiswick and Isleworth.On page 86 of its manifesto Labour raises the prospect of a Land Value Tax (LVT):"A Labour government will give local government extra funding next year. We will initiate a review into reforming council tax and business rates and consider new options such as a land value tax, to ensure local government has sustainable funding for the long term."I did the calculation for my house.  My current council tax is £2,270.  Under Labour's LVT proposals this would go up to £5,890, a rise of £3,620 or 160%.  It would be excruciating for my family.  Finding £3,620 out of an already reduced after tax income would effectively mean the end of holidays or a move to a smaller property.  It is quite easy to do this calculation for yourself.  Get your property value off Zoopla.  Multiply by 0.55 to get an estimate of the value of the undeveloped land.  Multiply 0.0085 to get the tax you would pay.  The rate of 0.85% comes from proposers of the tax themselves.  It is no good Labour claiming that this is scaremongering.  They have raised the proposal and stated the rate.  We know it has to be a large amount because they themselves are presenting it as a get out of free jail card for local government finance. Here is a mechanism that will allow Labour to pump vast funds into its local government clients without affecting headline tax rates for regular people.  The 1%ers will pay!  Unfortunately that means anyone who has struggled to buy a property in London.

Raymond Havelock ● 2990d3 Comments

No. It did not come from the Daily Express who have labelled it a garden tax.and it is incorrect in it's assertion.I don't think it's disinformation, as it's there in black and white print.But it is the lack of clarification that is the issue.It comes from page 87 of the Labour Manifesto and Yes it is, I believe, a  tory who has done the maths based on the detail provided.But I pointed out it was cut and pasted from another posting it is as proposed.But did bother to check the calculation and the source in the manifesto. But the issue and question is ( and remains unanswered), What if you live in London or the South East?It will affect almost everyone with so much as a patch of grass out back. Or a frontage packed with wheelie bins and boxes.And I am really independent this time,.No idea who to vote for, with the main candidates, for differing reasons.Unhappy too with all the manifestos I've read. Nationally, it's Both in detail and stance.  Idealistically, bits of all are good, but the practicalities and costings and methods are going unanswered from all parties.It has been particularly frustrating to get any sort of clear answers from anyone this time round, which was rather like Brexit. No clear anything from any side.

Raymond Havelock ● 2989d

It's certainly identical to a post made on the W4 forum by a different poster.  It seems to be part of a last-minute Tory disinformation campaign.  Surprised because Raymond has always asserted his political independence.

Phil Andrews ● 2989d

Does this come from the Daily Express? https://fullfact.org/economy/labours-land-value-tax-will-you-have-sell-your-garden/

Philippa Bond ● 2990d