Just been watching the late news on the BBC. Its bad enough having to listen to reports of Wales' defeat at the hands of Figi. But then Guto Harri came on with truly galling news from our Conference at Blackpool. It seems that we are going to abolish Stamp Duty on house sales up to £250,000 for first time buyers - assuming we form the next Government. Well all I can say is "B****r it". We've got a flat in Cardiff which we hope to sell - for about £270,000! Its a great policy though and I like it. I hope Guto has got this right.
I'm going up to Blackpool tomorrow where it seems we are in for the public presentation of a raft of exciting new policies. The Beeb was reporting tonight that we are going to propose significant changes to the tax system which promote marriage - controversial but pleasing to me. And I was also pleased to hear that we might be announcing an Airline Pollution Duty - which I think would be better received than a tax on individual passengers. And then there could be a firm promise to hold a referendum on the EU treaty that Gordon Brown tells us is not a treaty. And then we might hear some more about reducing the pain that Inheritance Tax inflicts on anyone who owns a half decent property. I all this comes to pass, I will find it difficult to understand if we don't storm ahead in the opinion polls next weekend. This is the stuff that will cause the Prime Minister to 'bottle out' of calling a snap General Election.
9 comments:
Is that the flat that you used to use as an Assembly member? If it is then perhaps you can tell us how much profit you have made from the 8 years down the Bay.
Now that's a snide little question - and it assumes that I will have made a profit. Which would have been nice of course. It is indeed the flat that I used when I was an Assembly Member - and I went for convenience rather than profit potential. While I do not see why I should reveal precise figures, I will admit that I will be grateful to get our money back! In fact, unless there is a sudden surge in flat values, it is highly likely that I will lose. I've heard several people say that AMs should not profit from increases in value - but I've never heard anyone suggest that the taxpayer should compensate any losses.
You do realise that the soon to be ex MP Lembit Grope-it is very keen on flying? He's eager to promote Welshpool airport. Would that perhaps be to do with the fact that he has a part share in a plane and is a director of a flying company based there?? Makes you wonder about the ethics of the situation. But then that celebrity obsessed idiot, I'm told, has none.
Straight question Glyn. How much did you pay for the flat in the Bay? What was the monthly mortgage and how much of this was covered by the taxpayer? Look forward to the answer.
Glyn, I wonder if 'Anonymous' is one of Lembit's minions. You need some widgets on this site to see where the traffic is coming from. Take a leaf out of Sanddef's book and get 'Extreme Tracker'.
anon - now that is rather a personal question. However I have always been open about these things. But the answer is not that straight forward - but I'll try.
Assembly Members have an allowance to cover the cost of living in Cardiff - which can be used for hotels, rental, interest on mortgage (but not repayment) furnishings, service charges, Council Tax, etc. I think it was somewhere between £11,000 and £12,000 last year. It would normally cover the costs associated with the purchase of a property worth about £140,000-£150,000, depending on interest rates and whether the AM travelled around Wales much and needed to stay elsewhere. Because my constituency of Mid and West Wales was so large, I did need to stay in Pembrokeshire from time to time.
You will see from my post that I paid well over £250,000 for my flat - which meant that I was choosing to pay a large sum out of my own pocket for the pleasure of living in a better quality flat. It was my choice - which I'm really paying for now. The monthly interest payment is not particularly relevent - because I put down quite a large cash payment on it , again out of my own pocket.
Now go and try to persuade the present AMs to give you the same information. I was usually the one that the media came to on this - because I was always open about it.
christopher - I don't mind who it is - even if I would prefer them to not post anonymously. There are people who cannot accept that there are politicians who are just in it because they really enjoy the workand - and not for the money. I would want to be an Assembly Member or an MP if I was not being paid at all - and since losing my seat have taken on several jobs for which I ask for no payment. Where I spend public money, I am answerable - within reason.
Next question. When did you pay £250k for the flat ? It seems that you were ripped off. You really do face a problem with house prices beginning to stabilise and there are lots of flats on offer in Cardiff Bay. Althogh where you do have a flat is one of the nicer areas in the bay and within walking distance of the Assembly.
You make an interesting point by asking your question. I do'nt think that flat values in Cardiff Bay have increased much - particularly those very convenient to the National Assembly. When we first bought a Cardiff flat it was in Adventurer's Quay, which we sold three years ago for at not much more than it had cost us. We moved to a really nice flat in Century Wharf which we would struggle to get our money back. I should have sold it as soon as I lost my seat in the Assembly last May - but we like it, and hope that we can come up with some way of keeping it. It will cost us though.
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