In “Reeves has best chance since Lloyd George of reforming property tax” (Opinion, August 16) Professor Charles Goodhart proposes a land tax at
the rate of £3,000 a year for a house valued at £1mn. In a noteworthy understatement he confesses “there would be a danger of resulting financial difficulties”.
In particular, he should remember that a house is not simply bricks and mortar, it is a home for a family. Many families living in expensive houses are property-rich but cash-poor, having ceased to be high earners. Imposition of a land tax would force thousands of innocent families to sell and abandon their homes and local circle of friends.
Only communist dictatorships have ever acted with such callousness towards a social class they despise. Any government in a democratic country contemplating such a land tax would be heading for political suicide.
Michael Vavrinek
London W2, UK
