Eric Pickles warns of "nice neighbourhood tax"

Boxing Day's Telegraph carried the following story: Labour planning secret tax on 'nice houses'.

It appears that Labour has divided Britain up into 10,000 localities with particularly 'nice' localities likely to receive higher council tax bills if Labour wins the next election.  Shadow Secretary of State Eric Pickles told The Telegraph:

"The cat is out of the bag that Gordon Brown's tax inspectors are preparing for a council tax revaluation after the general election. Labour Ministers have developed a 21st century Domesday Book – carving up England's towns and villages into anonymous 'localities' for taxation. Family homes in middle England which enjoy lower rates of crime, less traffic or a friendly community now face the prospect of another tax bombshell. Given the chance, there is nothing that Gordon Brown will not tax."

Susie Squire of The TaxPayers' Alliance added her own voice to the protests:

"Council tax has already increased by 50% over the last ten years, and any further tax hikes would be a disgrace, particularly as ordinary people continue to struggle in the credit crunch. Many pensioners and others who have owned their property over a long period may find themselves suddenly footing an unexpectedly large bill, through no fault or action of their own. It's time council tax came down, for everyone."

Tim Montgomerie