Pickles Warns Against 'Mansion Tax Mistake'

The Communities Secretary has warned it would be a "very big mistake" to impose a mansion tax on properties worth £1m or more.

Eric Pickles made the comments in an interview with The Daily Telegraph, saying it would hit middle-class families.

The mansion tax idea is favoured by his party's coalition partner, the Liberal Democrats, and was first proposed by Business Secretary Vince Cable .

Mr Pickles said introducing such a tax would require a revaluation of homes across the country - something the coalition has ruled out.

"We as a Government have got to understand that middle-class families put a lot into this country and don't take a lot out," he told the newspaper.

"It would be a very big mistake to start imposing taxation on the back of changes in property values, particularly with big regional variations.

"People will suddenly find themselves in a mansion and they hadn't realised it was a mansion.

"If it is only going to be mansions, the kind of thing you and I would regard as a mansion, it ain't going to raise very much."

Mr Pickles added he sympathised with those Conservatives calling for the 50p top rate of tax to be scrapped in order to stimulate the economy.

"I'm a Conservative, I like the idea of lowering taxation," he said.

"I believe you get more tax revenue by lowering taxation because people work harder.

"I like people to keep more in their pockets for their family."