13/03/06 - Labours Plans To Hike Council Tax, Include Public Pictures!

The Greedy Labour Government, With Yet More Tax Hikes Planned

Thousands of inspectors are being kitted out with cameras ready to put pictures of the inside of every home on the internet.

People's bedrooms, bathrooms and gardens will be among those posted on the net under plans drawn up by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

Details of house prices and surveys would also be published, according to the Sun newspaper.

The proposals are part of a proposed revaluation of England's 21 million homes.

The Sun says Mr Prescott wants home owners who have made improvements to their houses to pay more council tax.

The internet plan would allow people to compare their homes with their neighbours. It is hoped they would then be less likely to appeal against their revalution.

Tories have attacked the scheme as a "snoopers charter" and an "instruction manual for burglars".

Shadow Local Government Secretary Caroline Spelman said: "The privacy of law-abiding citizens will be ignored due to Labour's compulsion to levy stealth taxes on families and pensioners."

It has been estimated a third of England's homes would move up a council tax band under the revaluation.

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "This is a disgrace.  Tax hikes are bad enough, without us all having to see our own homes published for the public.  From the nanny state, to the nosey state - shame on Labour."