Andy Burnham is increasingly being talked about as the successor to Keir Starmer at No.10, but one voter has expressed a concern they have over one alleged policy that could potentially hit the South East hard. The Merseyside native is the bookies favourite to take up residency in Downing Street, and subsequently the Labour leadership, but it turns out it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.
A heated debate over the future of the country took place on the Am I Being Unreasonable? forum on Mumsnet recently after one user brought up their worries over one thing in particular: land tax, and the effects this could have on their way of life. “Anyone else in the South East worried about Andy Burnham bringing in a land tax?” they asked. ” A lot of my friends who live locally are worrying that he will make the land tax so high in proportion to other areas of the UK that it will be financially very difficult to afford but then also extremely difficult to sell.”
The user explained they were concerned about reports linking Burnham to the idea, particularly as someone living in an area where property values have risen sharply. They said they weren’t opposed to reforming the current council tax system in principle. However, they worried that homeowners in the South East could end up paying significantly more despite not necessarily having higher incomes.
Plus, they argued that many people are “asset rich but cash poor”, having seen the value of their homes increase over time without a corresponding rise in earnings. They questioned whether a land value tax would unfairly penalise people who had simply stayed in the same property for many years.
Burnham has previously argued that the UK’s property tax system should be reformed and has spoken positively about exploring alternatives, including a land value tax. However, he has not announced plans to introduce such a tax, nor is it official Labour Party policy. According to Tembo Money, Burnham believes wealth tied up in land should play a greater role in taxation while reducing the burden on income.
The discussion prompted a wide range of reactions. Some Mumsnet users shared the original poster’s concerns, while others argued that it wouldn’t be solely the South West affected.
One user quizzed: “What? Why would it be a higher rate? Do you just mean because your houses are more expensive – because there are other expensive areas elsewhere in the UK?”
Another added: “If Burnham does increase land taxes or council taxes then it will be a good thing IMO. Owners of large houses get away with paying far too little compared with other properties and they are an easy group to tax, so why not. Everyone keeps saying how Labour should tax the rich more, and here is one easy way of doing it.”
The debate reflects wider discussions around property taxation in England. The independent Institute for Fiscal Studies has previously highlighted that council tax in England is still based on property valuations from 1991, creating significant regional disparities and prompting calls for reform.
Whether a future government would ever introduce a land value tax remains uncertain. For now, the proposal remains one of several ideas discussed by economists and politicians rather than a confirmed policy.
Would you be concerned if council tax was replaced with a land value tax? Let The Express know in the comments.