More taxation through the back door

After reports yesterday about the Government issuing warnings to keep quiet about the their plans for fees on rubbish collections (on top of council tax), there are more reports today of "behind the scenes" policy making that would not go down well a week before major local and Scottish elections if they were big news. It appears that valuation officers are compiling an electronic database logging details of every home in the country - despite the government saying that this would not happen until after a general election. Internal government handbooks for the Valuation Office Agency, an arm of the Inland Revenue, showed that inspectors were empowered to enter homes and log features. The council tax manual states that although the revaluation exercise is delayed, "-it is imperative that every opportunity is taken to maintain and further improve the extensive electronic database-".

What this comes down to is more taxation. It is inevitable. That is on top of the Government's ever growing belief that it has more of a right to enter our homes and snoop around than we do. Theresa May, the Conservative shadow leader of the Commons, has had her say on the matter -

"When people vote in next week's local elections, they will do so without knowing the full extent of Labour's tax bombshell that awaits them. Gordon Brown didn't mention his council tax review in his Budget - but his officials are still working on their revaluation plans. He wants intrusive inspectors to check on home improvements, take photographs, and catalogue the bedrooms, bathrooms and attics."

More stealth taxation through the back door. It is not right, it is not fair, it is not honest and it is becoming too much of a burden on all of us. Sneaking around and enforcing these policies on the electorate is not democratic - if it's such a good idea let the voters decide by hearing the truth.