Council Tax (New Valuation Lists for England) Bill

I do not think it right for me to deal with the geographical issue that the hon. Gentleman raises, but the essence of his point is entirely wrong. Having attacked the money that went to Westminster year in, year out when the Conservatives were in power, on taking office this Labour Government found that the figures were absolutely right, and that they had to stick by the truth of the then Government’s position. The hon. Gentleman has forgotten what has happened in the past eight years and he ought to remember it. As I said, if we are to have a property tax, we must have a valuation system. I am in favour of a property tax, having looked at every other system. I know that it would be wrong to discuss those systems now, but I must tell the Liberal Democrats that the worst system that I came across was local income tax. It was—