Anyone else in the South East worried about Andy Burnham bringing in a land tax?

I assume that's not for SEND kids though? Not all children can tolerate bus trips.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/oct/31/soaring-costs-trigger-calls-to-address-transport-for-send-pupils-in-england

These costs have to be covered by everyone in the council area. It's just there's more 'everyone' in high density cities and the south.

He repeatedly told that he's a Notherner guy and won't tolerate "London elites"

Oldest DGC was at a selective state 6th form college, the connecting bus cost £1k+ for the year. Paid upfront. I assume low income families got help. Parents had to drive to the bus pick up point.

I'm in the South and I don't hate Burnham or the concept of a LVT. The current system is an absolute mess. As with all things there are upsides and downsides of an LVT but on balance I think in the long-term it will be simpler to administer than the carnage that goes on at the moment.

Like many people, I am deeply concerned about how my DC will ever be able to afford property - probably more of an issue in London and the South than anywhere else. LVT might be one way to encourage developers not to hold on to land but to use it or sell it on. It might also knock some of the insane pricing in the South down a bit, which might also help get the market moving and make places more affordable again. Getting rid of stamp duty would also help encourage people to move house and it would remove the crazy politicisation of council tax rates. It is an absurd situation that depending on the political leaning of your local council you can live a street away from someone else in the same sized house and be paying vastly different council tax rates.

If you've never taken part in a "catch the lard-smeared whippet" competition in an abandoned steelworks you've missed out on one of life's great adventures

It feels a bit as though the South hates Burnham!

When you say you're not receiving services, sure, but other people around you are. The cost of taxis to school for remote areas is higher, so you're paying more for that. And you can't use parking fines to offset it.

Sounds like DS, not even a local bus service! People in Westminster pay just over £2k agains parts of the North paying almost £5k, both band H. Seems ludicrous.

Just because he’s a northerner doesn’t mean he hates southerners.

sounds like your friends are scared of the left. I don’t think anyone needs to panic (well not yet anyway)

I was referring to where he studied rather than what he studied and it was a sarcastic reference to the fact that very few PMs didn’t attend Oxford or Cambridge. Even Starmer spent a year at Oxford.

It's really hard isn't it.

For transparency I am from Merseyside and live in Manchester now.

You do pay for better amenities... whatever part of the country you're in. So a south Manchester leafy suburb with decent transport connections is way above national house prices. You could pay 500k for a decent 3 bed terraced with no garden to speak of.
An equivalent area near Liverpool would be a bit cheaper... Maybe 320k for a terrace in the leafy south Liverpool suburbs, but as lovely a city as it is there are far more work opportunities in Manchester.

The South East (London accessible) has better work opportunities again.

So on a transactional level it's fair.

However that does not take into account the fact that many people live in a particular area because their is where their family, friends and support network are. And to be penalised because that support network happens to me in a more expensive area doesn't feel fair.

I manage a team of people who earn 50-65k... So good salaries in many part of the country but not in London with a family. 5 of my team members are from London and live in various parts of the country (we're a remote team) because they just couldn't afford the life you would expect as a professional in London e.g. a 3 bed house, some outside space proximity to a school they like. All say they would move back if it were affordable as they are constantly travelling to see family, look after elderly parents etc.

It's a complex issue, trying to create policy where people across the country can afford a home near work/family etc whilst ensuring fair taxation in assets (that could be realised at any time).

I'm not sure there is any solution that could keep everyone happy.

Have you got any evidence to justify your claim that Burnham 'hates the South'?

Exactly

The split of the right did not matter. AB got over 54% of the vote, more than all the other candidates combined.

The top 10 cheapest councils in the UK for council tax are:

Wandsworth
Westminster
City of London
Hammersmith & Fulham
Kensington & Chelsea
Tower Hamlets
Southwark
Newham
Hackney
Lambeth

The top 4 all have Band A council tax less than £1200 and the top two have Band B less than £1200.

at least with introduction of LVT Labour will be wiped out of London and many areas of SE.

“We”? Are you the CEO of HSBC or something?

Rich London businesses generate the income, not you. And as I said up thread, London generates 25% of the national revenue. Whilst that is a marginal per capita amount than other cities owing to its size, it is a greater amount overall. 75p in every pound comes from outside London. You are not single-handedly supporting the entire nation.

I live in an expensive Northern area, my house was 700k but i would still be better off with the new land tax than current council tax so i am not buying it that its unfair on Londoners.

Other cities are available

Who’s paying £1200 in the south? I pay £4k per year. I work in the public sector and have had an 11% pay cut in real terms over last 8 years. Mortgage has gone through the roof.

I appreciate im not on the breadline like many but the idea that everyone in the south can subsidise those in the north really annoys me. Those in the north are not generally subject to ridiculously high housing costs like here. I really don’t think the economy is working for anyone…

Well yes.

But other places have airports, parks and entertainment. Most of the things you’ve listed really. Just with less people and less hassle.

Once you’ve seen London’s, you have sort of seen it, unless there’s a new Big Ben, or they’ve changed Buckingham Palace?

Definitely not convinced it’s worth the price tag of living there.

Yes but the people (majority ) buying the cheap house will be on near nmw. Why should they pay a higher rate of tax than anyone owning a 400000 property?

I'm not asking anyone to pay anything. I'm just pointing out that CT is Westminster is a lot less than in Blackpool.

And living surrounded by culture and beautiful parks has a price tag. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

As an aside, unless you like traffic and crowds, I see absolutely no reason to even go to London to be honest.

This sums it up about mindset. No great museums, theaters, art events, sightseeing, great food, ability to travel the world easily, no beautiful parks, ability to meet people from all parts of the world, nothing at all, just traffic and crowds. Let's live that small life in a nicer area of a shithole and salivate about taxing Londoners more.