Less benefit

GET READY to leave the country. Apparently, the government is planning a council tax revaluation. Shockingly, valuers will find out how much a home is really worth and tax it accordingly.

According to the Mail on Sunday yesterday:

‘Ministers have purchased sophisticated ‘Big Brother’ computer systems which calculate the desirability of an area based on the quality of local services and the types of people who live there. The software, which will be used in the forthcoming revaluation of all 21 million homes in England, contains astonishingly detailed data on the number of households, even those who have pets, wear contact lenses or are vegetarian. It allows inspectors to put a precise value on each home, based not only by its size and features, but its location.’

The Conservatives have been making hay with the story but Labour has dismissed it as ’juvenile’.

After the paper’s revelation last week that council tax officials will have a right of entry to people’s home, it’s enough to make your average Mail-reading veggie (are there any?) want to leave the country. Which is exactly what some are planning to do according to the comments on the software story.