Margaret Beckett displays her ignorance of the housing market
Share
I watched the repeat of Question Time on BBC Parliament yesterday and two points in relation to the housing market in general and the Lib Dems’ revised proposals for a Mansion tax in particular struck me as being worth commenting on.
In response to a question about the Lib Dems’ proposed Mansion tax, Margaret Beckett, after saying she couldn’t believe the figure but would share it with us anyway, said that the Land Registry figures showed that there were only 86 properties worth over £2m.
It had to be pointed out to her that that the Land Registry figures were quoted in thousands and therefore one had to add three noughts to the figure.
It is not only pretty stupid to quote a figure on national television that you say you don’t believe, but in particular most people’s common sense would have told them that there must be more than 86 houses in the country worth more than £2m.
It is a damning indictment of this Government’s understanding of the housing market that someone who was Minister of State for Housing and Planning until as recently as 5 June this year has so little understanding of such a basic fact relating to the housing market.
The other rather amusing point was seeing Kirstie Allsop get the better of Vince Cable in the discussion on his Mansion tax.
View results 10 per page | 20 per page
Readers' comments (14)
Joh Tidswell | 7 Dec 2009 3:05 pm
I think you will find that most of our MP's know very little about anythning. I recall the Leader of the Lib Dems a couple of years ago believing that the Basic state pension was £30 per week. Then they wonder why so few people turn out to vote.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
William Kingsley | 7 Dec 2009 3:06 pm
This govt has mismanaged the property and mortgage markets since they came to power so nothing is a surprise. They have created artificial trading conditions and markets within markets due to their tinkering with SDLT. They are incapable and incompetent and overseeing the FSA so we have no chance!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Chris Fleetwood | 7 Dec 2009 3:10 pm
Ray,
Given their consistent and evident lack of basic knowledge about business and the way the world really works outside the political bubble they live in, career politicians demonstrate daily not only their own stupidity but also ours for allowing anyone to become an MP and God forbid a government minister, who cannot demonstrate a clear track record of having lived and worked in the world in which their constituents do. I am just surprised you are surprised. Hell, we have an ex Chancellor and now PM who has never even run a bring and buy stall. Great qualifications for running the economy and the country! Now there is a surprise......
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
David Creffield | 7 Dec 2009 3:17 pm
One only has to look at John Prescott.
Deputy Prime Minister??????
How on earth could this happen to our great nation.
It is beyond belief.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Gareth E K Smith | 7 Dec 2009 3:43 pm
Kirsty Allsop didn't get "the better" of Vince Cable in discussing the mansion tax all she did was prove that the very rich (ie her gransparents property is worth over £2mil) have no idea how the majority of the country live and that the "mansion tax" will be used to take the very low earners ie under £10,000 out of paying income tax.
The choice we are facing is whether we want public services in there current state without any cuts and if we do how will they be paid and taxing individuals who have done very nicely out of the housing bubble seems fairer than asking the school cleaner to pay some tax.
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
David McElhoney | 7 Dec 2009 3:43 pm
We have the cream of our society in the Government - Rich and Thick!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Bob Bull | 7 Dec 2009 3:58 pm
One answer to two problems?
Why not put the FSA in charge of regulating Parliment, and let us honest brokers get on with what we do best without interference.
Do you think that any MP, let alone Brown or Darling can be found to have given Good Advice. Try TFC on them and see what you get.
Regards to all fellow downtrodden MBs
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Tom IFA | 7 Dec 2009 4:27 pm
someone recommend that she pay addititional tax on those bloody caravans that she and her other anoraks clog our already overcrowded roads. These things add hours to journeys and extra emissions to the pzone from their gas guzzalers they tow with!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Dan McGeehan | 7 Dec 2009 4:41 pm
Never mind Margaret Beckett's comments...what are you doing watching a repeat of question time on BBC parliament. I know the BBC is slated for its programming and constant repeats but surely something better was on!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment
Gareth | 7 Dec 2009 5:38 pm
LOL, this is classic. The best I have read for a long time.
Margaret Beckett for Prime Minister!!
Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment