I have to admit I don't even understand what this policy is or how it would work. I've heard of it and I know that it has a long history in the Liberal Party, but that's about all. Can anyone explain it?

There is a booklet which explains the policy throughly produced by Ben Rae (a member from Shoreditch in London). If you want to e-mail me at liberalpolicy@hotmail.co.uk i will send you a copy.

There is a booklet which explains the policy throughly produced by Ben Rae (a member from Shoreditch in London). If you want to e-mail me at liberalpolicy@hotmail.co.uk i will send you a copy.

Thanks - I will. But is there an electronic version anywhere that we could link to for the sake of other forum users?

The first two pages of the 1927 Liberal booklet 'Taxation of Land Values' (I can photocopy the whole original for anyone who wants it), explains LVT. Great idea in its day, a totemic policy for Liberals (the Land song)- but a total bureaucratic nightmare for today's world. THE Taxation of Land Values does not mean an additional burden of taxation; it means a redis-tribution and readjustment of the burden of taxation, so as to make it easier to carry. The proposal is to alter the method of calculating the amount of Rates and Taxes which a man has to pay on the property which he occupies or owns. At the present time the Rates and the Income Tax (Schedule" A ") are based on the rent actually received or paid. If a man improves his property by extending a shop-front, or by putting up sheds and starting a market-garden, his taxes are increased. On the other hand, if a man allows his land to lie idle, either for his own pleasure or in hopes of selling at an enhanced price later on, he is hardly taxed at all. The proposal is that Rates and Taxes should be reckoned, not on the rent of the whole composite property (including buildings and other" improvements "), but on the value of the land alone, and on its real selling-value whatever may be the use to which it is put at the moment. This bare, original, "unimproved" value of land depends on the development and progress of the Community as a whole. It is not created by any individual, but by the general public. There is therefore justice in taking what is necessary for public purposes from this publicly-created value. Its Chief Results. If Rates and Taxes were calculated in this way on the real selling-value of the land alone, the chief results would be these : (1) We should cease to be taxed for our enterprise and . industry. Business development would be stimulated, because a man would know that the improvement of his premises or the cultivation of his land would not be penalised by heavier taxation. (2) Land would come more readily and cheaply into its best use, because it would be rated and taxed on its value for this use (i.e., on its real selling-value), even though the owner chose to keep it back for his own private purpose. In other words, when land has to bear the share of taxation which is proportionate to its real value, the owner will usually want it to "earn" its taxes by coming into its best use. These two things-the unburdening of enterprise and the pressure of land into its best use-are two powerful promoters of industry and progress.

The first two pages of the 1927 Liberal booklet 'Taxation of Land Values' (I can photocopy the whole original for anyone who wants it), explains LVT. Great idea in its day, a totemic policy for Liberals (the Land song)- but a total bureaucratic nightmare for today's world. What would be a better policy for the party to adopt? I agree the present policy cannot be explained on the door step! The problem we have with domestic properties is that not enough people are paying the council tax and the burden is spread unevenly/unfairly. Local income tax might be an option or local sales tax ( although the latter would affect disproportionately those on low incomes )

"What would be a better policy for the party to adopt?" The original Liberal Party policy! HERE WE STAND 1990 Liberal Party leaflet. "Replacement of the Poll Tax/Council Tax by Local Income Tax..." I get the feeling domestic LVT was adopted as policy, to be different from the Lib Dems, and because LVT has a strong association with the Liberal Party historically. LVT could be a good replacement for Business Rates.

I’ve scanned the Here We Stand leaflet, and have e-mailed it to you. The reference to Local Income Tax is the last point in the last paragraph titled The Economy. The leaflet was monochrome, A4 folded into three; it gives the Southport (David Green?) address to find out more. The imprint gives the Liberal Party address as 22 Gayfere Street London SW1P 3HP, (which helps date it to 1990) and was printed by J. Gaynor & Co Southport.