In respect of the housing market, ever since Labour said in 1997 it would introduce the Sellers Information Pack which later became the Home Information Pack (HIP)
At that time, the Conservatives supported the initiative, saying the house selling and buying procedure needed to be improved, as did the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), which were in talks of merging the two bodies.
I was a lone voice locally pointing out that the conditions of the pack would not be helpful because it was an extra cost and possibly would delay the process rather than make it any easier.
The point I wish to make here is that, now the Conservative party, under David Cameron, says it will scrap the HIP if it ever gets into power.
The Lib Dems view – the one I supported and suggested – was that the HIP ought to be voluntary, not compulsory.
The second issue I have been complaining about for nearly quarter of a century is that of inheritance tax (IHT). This year, I proposed scrapping IHT altogether, or at least let the first £1 million be exempt. Remember, this includes not just property, but all savings, antiques, etc.
At this year’s Conferences, the Lib Dems agreed to raise the threshold to £500,000. The Conservatives announced my £1 million exemption while Labour has come in at £600,000 with conditions.
With my local MP, Desmond Swayne, being an adviser to Cameron, I do wonder if my policies have been stolen by him and introduced as Conservative ideas.
The proof is contained in the records of past editions of newspapers locally and indeed nationally, and also in industry publications. It shows that a non-politician can make a difference, while those elected have no ideas of their own.
Richard F Grant
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