Ed Miliband’s Homes Tax would have far-reaching consequences and hurt people who have worked hard and done the right thing. Senior figures within the Labour Party have been lining up to criticise the proposal.
Lord (Peter) Mandelson has joined a string of Labour MPs and senior party figures who have criticised the proposals. Mandelson has attacked Ed Miliband’s ‘crude’, ‘short-termist’ plan for a new tax on family homes, saying it would end up ‘clobbering people’.
Speaking on Newsnight, Mandelson said he favoured finding new ways of taxing property in Britain. But he added: “I don’t happen to think that the mansion tax is the right policy response to that. I think it’s crude, I think it’s short-termist.”
Chelsea and Fulham stands to be the second worst affected constituency in the country if Labour’s Homes Tax is ever introduced. Local MP, Greg Hands, has long been campaigning against the proposed tax. He warns that a Labour Government or a Labour coalition with the Lib Dems could implement the tax and then reduce the threshold over time to hit more and more people.
Greg Hands MP said: “The Labour leadership is still strongly pledged to bring in their Homes Tax, despite senior Labour party figures lining up to criticise it as unfair and unworkable. Lord Mandelson was a key pillar of the previous Labour Government, but even he can see that Ed Miliband’s plans are dangerous and would be bad for the country.
“If you earn more than £42,000, Labour class you as ‘wealthy’ and say you will have to pay it up front. And if you’re a pensioner on a low income, Labour want you or your family to pay the tax when you die. It’s clear that this could be a serious tax rise for middle income families.
“Labour haven’t learned their lesson. All Ed Miliband offers is the same old policies, bringing economic chaos and higher taxes on people who’ve worked hard and done the right thing all their lives.
“I shall continue to fight this unfair and damaging Homes Tax proposal, which unfortunately it seems Labour are determined to introduce if they are given a chance after the next election. The only way to ensure this tax is not implemented is to vote Conservative in May.”