Overview

• Thirteen Labour MPs have written to Rachel Reeves calling for council tax to be abolished and replaced with a system that reflects current house prices.
• The signatories span Labour’s left and right, including Jonathan Brash, Jonathan Hinder, Dan Carden, Andy McDonald and Jon Trickett.
• Reeves is preparing next month’s budget while seeking £20bn–£30bn after an expected downgrade from the Office for Budget Responsibility.
• The Institute for Fiscal Studies urges prioritising property‑tax reform, with options discussed such as higher charges on bands G–H, a national top‑up, or an annual property levy.
• Council tax is still based on 1991 values in England and Scotland and 2003 in Wales, exacerbating regional disparities; the Treasury says the budget will balance funding needs with growth.