Here we go again
This is not a new thing. It’s just the norm in fact:
Britain’s wealthiest areas will face the biggest council tax rises, experts have predicted.
Families in London and the Home Counties could be hit with huge tax increases under Angela Rayner’s plans to make up for budget cuts. Cash will be funnelled into poorer neighbourhoods under the “progressive” new system.
In June, it was revealed that Ms Rayner is consulting on a new formula that will see government grants redistributed depending on local needs.
The changes are expected to reduce the funding received by wealthier local authorities in London and the South East, which experts have said would be likely to prompt council tax increases to make up for any shortfalls.
Back when, under the Brown Terror, there was substantial reallocation of the Uniform Business Rates revenue. Those richer - and purely by happenstance of course Tory voting - areas found that more of that UBR which flows up from local authorities to central government was not reallocated to them but was sent elsewhere. Then in came the Coalition and there was a substantial reallocation from those poorer - and, purely by happenstance of course Labour voting - areas back to the places - purely by happenstance of course Tory and LibDem voting - areas that had first generated the revenues. Now we’ve a Labout government again and guess what? The revenues are being allocated once again from those richer - and purely by happenstance of course Tory voting - areas to those poorer - and purely by happenstance of course Labour voting - areas.
Now, it could actually be true that revenues should be allocated in this manner. Or that other manner perhaps. Further, the whole point of having elections is that policy can now change - that is, presumably, what people vote for. But this is - no, really, it is - just the current lot taking money off the supporters of others to present to their own voters. Who the current lot are changes with elections so therefore so does those having it taken off, those having it presented to.
Shrug, that’s how politics works, the state is used to buy votes.
The only way out of this is to have less state of course - minarchy beats this electoral auction. Nothing else does or will.
Tim Worstall