Given that it applies to such a small group of voters isn't this almost certain to happen isn't it? In fact, I wonder if even the tories might adopt it (see below).
Rather than debate whether its fair or not, perhaps we can come up with some unreported potential benefits or otherwise. I'm tired of the lazy political/media debate on it.
PLEASE ADD SOME POTENTIAL UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES TO THIS THREAD
For example:
ANOTHER HIT ON NHS LONDON
I wonder if it will lead to yet more key workers leaving London? For example, there will be plenty of senior doctors who managed to buy a house 10-20 years ago that now provide key service to central London hospitals. That's a small population of people (1,000?), but likely to be caught in the middle income mansion tax trap that no politician cares about. How will they run an NHS service when these doctors need to be no more than 30 mins from the likes of UCH, Chelsea and Westminster, Royal Free, Hammersmith, Charing Cross etc. The doctors can move out of London, make a killing on their house and continue to earn the same (almost) outside London. Bit of a no brainer. Shame if you happen to need one in London though.
TAX DRIVEN DIVORCES
My prediction is a slight rise in the divorce rate too. If you are in a "mansion" - better known as a normal family house that happens to be in central London - you will have to get divorced and split your house into two maisonettes. Another boost for the building trade though.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ETHNIC CLEANSING
Overall, it's actually a bit of a Tory policy in a trojan horse. I think the mantra is "You can only live in London if you PAY TO STAY" - that means only very high income people can stay. If you're not high income, please leave:
- stick and carrot
- stick high taxes
- carrot sell your house for a profit.
Isn't that what the tories want - further ethnic cleansing of London in favour of super wealthy that like to make tory party donations.