Tax Fairness

Debate between Chris Leslie and John Leech

Tuesday 12th March 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD)]

rose—

[Chris Leslie]

I will give way to one of them.

[Mr Leech]

Does the hon. Gentleman not accept that when they were in government, Labour Members opposed our proposal for a mansion tax? It is all very well for them to come out in support of it in opposition, but they never did so in government.

[Chris Leslie]

I shall put to one side the fact that the Liberal Democrats said one thing in opposition—about, for example, tuition fees—and have done completely the opposite in government. The hon. Gentleman should know that circumstances are now getting worse, especially given the millionaires’ tax cut which will take effect in April. We must do something to revive the fairness of the tax system, and that is why I think it important for the Liberal Democrats to stick to their 2010 manifesto pledge to introduce

“a Mansion Tax at a rate of 1 per cent on properties worth over £2 million, paid on the value of the property above that level.”