Andy Burnham has been branded the “Sheriff of Nottingham” by a Tory MP as HMRC valuation agents are set to descend on British homes to determine eligibility to pay the steep new “mansion tax”.
Speaking to GB News, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Mike Wood compared the Prime Minister to the villainous rival of Robin Hood as he hit out at plans to hike levies on higher-value homes.
Inspectors could be sent to determine whether homeowners will be liable for a new surcharge on higher-value homes, and those who refuse agents entry could face criminal prosecution and a fine of up to £200.
Additionally, homeowners who do not supply requested information without a "reasonable excuse" could attract a fine of up to £500.
Mr Wood predicted the “council tax police” would invade family homes to find ways to increase property valuations and raise the amount of tax homeowners pay.
“It’s hard to believe that this is something that’s seriously being proposed in Britain,” he said.
“I don’t know whether 'Orwellian' is the word,” he said, lambasting the Prime Minister for the policy.
“This is less Mayor of Manchester. It’s more Sheriff of Nottingham,” he said.
Mr Wood warned that the number of homeowners affected could grow over time, arguing that the threshold could be widened once the system is established.
“This will affect voters across the country because although we know where they’ve set the threshold at the moment, I don’t think any of us believe that that’s where the threshold will stay once they’ve got this in force,” he warned.
“And so they will be bringing in more and more homes into this super tax.”
The Conservative frontbencher pledged that his party would oppose the proposals in Parliament.
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“We’re going to be arguing strongly against; of course we’re going to vote against,” he said.
However, Mr Wood acknowledged that Labour’s parliamentary majority means the Government could ultimately force the measure through if it proceeds with the plans.
“The parliamentary arithmetic means that the Government, if they persist with this, this time, will be able to force it through,” he said.
Mr Wood pledged that the Conservatives would instead campaign both inside and outside Parliament to pressure Mr Burnham into abandoning the policy.
“We’ll work inside and outside of Parliament to make sure that Andy Burnham realises quite how explosive this idea, how unfair this idea is,” he said.
The MP also pointed to previous attempts to introduce a mansion tax, saying politicians including Tony Blair, Vince Cable and Ed Miliband had floated similar proposals before abandoning them.
He argued that Mr Burnham should ultimately be forced to follow suit and “drop a very negative and unworkable policy”.
The tax hike, formally called the high-value council tax surcharge, was announced by ex-Chancellor Rachel Reeves at last year's Budget.
Properties valued above £2million could be charged as much as £7,500 more per year, depending on their worth.
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