Govt. to give up 40% off homes, but only if you're rich enough to buy 2

[Guy_Montag]

Tax plan sparks rural homes fear

The tax break on second homes is due to come into force in April 2006
Plans to give tax breaks on second homes could exacerbate the shortage of affordable housing in the countryside, a government watchdog has warned.

*snip*

It means that higher income earners could get 40% back from the government on the cost of a holiday home.

*snip*

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4182644.stm

This disgusts me.

Edit to include link to "talking point":

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4183374.stm

read the rage.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. a tax giveaway for the rich

:puke:

[whatever4]

2. WHAT? Oh what a greedy thing to do, second home indeed nm

[rkc3]

3. I thought welfare was a bad idea?

[Kicked in the Taco]

4. WTF? That just sounds outrageous!

A tax break for the better off AND encouragement for people to buy up properties where there's already a severe shortage of affordable housing, only to leave them empty for most of the year! Unless I'm missing a big part of the picture, this is despicable.
:grr:

[Brotherjohn]

5. Hmmm. A little boost to keep the bubble inflated until Nov. 2006? (nt)

[Nihil]

6. This is just a disgrace

Yet more evidence that the Blairite party is pure Conservative.

> higher income earners could get 40% back from the government

This is so totally unfair it is nauseating.
I could believe this coming from a rabid Tory government but from
people who call themselves "Labour"? I don't think even Thatcher
tried such a blatant attack on the commoners as this.

Let's see how the Blair apologists spin this one ...

[moggie]

7. Absolutely crazy

On the other hand, how many MPs have two homes, hmm?