Much ado about Gordon Brown's give and take budget. Even the commentators couldn't work out the fine detail. All will be clear when it backs up into our wallets.

Meanwhile, the more telling political topic is the government's decision to abandon the re-evaluation of the council tax, based on the fact that thousands of undercharged householders in the south-east would get a nasty shock as their banding is increased.
The evaluation of council tax (the former rates) has always been a farce. Who says that someone living in a posher property would necessarily have more bins to empty or be in more need of emergency services. The opposite is more likely to be the case, which woul at least legitimise the principle of the poll tax, where all individuals pay for the services they enjoy.
In Merseyside, this was always unpopular (ie the rich man in his castle (ie a single occupant in a detached house) and the poor man at his gate (ie ten in a terrace), all paying per head instead of per property.
The reform was no less aceptable to many. I do know for certain that in some areas of Merseyside district valuers merely drove through entire areas (without examination of land area or house extesions etc.) and categorised houses en masse. Which is why I am probably paying LESS than is appropriate under the present crackpot rules.
To my mind, everything beyond basic rate income tax is a form of national or local government mugging.
Who's bothered about a twopence fall in the basic rate of income tax when Gordon Brown is helping himself in fiscal areas where he has no business to be?

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