Gary Monro’s blog

Today’s Telegraph reports that the government is seeking to tax homeowners who have a nice view from their houses.

Taxpayers are set to be charged hundreds of pounds extra a year if they are in a conservation area, next to an open space, have a swimming pool or tennis court or enjoy full or partial views of the sea, hills, mountains, lakes or rivers.

Extra charges are also expected to be levied on homes with more bedrooms than average, conservatories, large patios or gardens, roof terraces or balconies. Homes in “gated communities” will also face higher bills.

Official documents show that ministers are going to extraordinary lengths to build a detailed database of properties across England, with the intention of placing them in a higher council tax band.

A question occurs: when that nice Mr Prescott comes along and concretes over your nice view, will your council tax reduce accordingly?

One of the commenters to this log is in the process of denying the Nazi holocaust in the comments section of this post.
Because I don’t want another lengthy digression from the topic in hand (Iraq’s call for the wiping off the map of Israel) I’m posting his last comment here and then inviting interested parties to add their comments.

I hasten to add that, although I’m no scholar of Nazi history - and am well aware of the value of propoganda and the historical skewing that can take place to promote it - I do not accept that Nazi Germany had any other plans with the Jews than their extermination.

And, for the record: if Iran were to seriously threaten Israel in accordance with its recent words I for one would support any necessary means to neutralise that threat.

This posting isn’t to give a platform for a holocaust revisionist but to avoid jamming up the comments section with off-topic argument.

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