Our fringe meeting at federal conference in Southport was entitled, 'Reforming business rates and council tax' with Michael Meadowcroft (standing in photo), a former Liberal member of Parliament and life-long campaigner invited to introduce the discussion.

Tony Vickers of ALTER (sitting to the right) also spoke on more technical matters and solutions to the problems raised by our policy of using site value rating to replace the present taxation methods supporting local services...

ALTER has submitted its response to the Inquiry on Land Value Capture to the Communities and Local Government Committee Inquiry. Compiled by ALTER executive member Chris Glover, it criticises so called betterment taxes and explains why Land Value Tax is the way forward. It proposes several short term measure including removal of capital gains exemption for domestic property sale. The document can be read here.

The Scottish Land Commisstion is seeking partners in a project to "assess, with reference to international experience, the potential of land value taxation to contribute to a more productive, accountable and diverse pattern of land ownership and use in Scotland and to identify a set of potential policy options that merit further consideration by SLC".

Alter welcomes the report https://institute.global/insight/renewing-centre/home-truths-progressive-vision-housing-policy-21st-century published by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

The executive summary is reproduced below:

A housing crisis is sweeping through cities from Sydney to London to San Francisco. Following a short slump in 2008, house prices across the OECD have soared, contributing to a decline in living standards and a rise in wealth inequality. Today, housing is the source of economic anxiety, social resentment, and political frustration.

Former Liberal MP for Leeds and ALTER member Michael Meadowcroft has written a letter about land hoarding in the Sunday Times.

Meanwhile well known LVT activist Duncan Pickard has featured on Radio 4 Money Box. Follow the link to listen.

Reception for launch of All Party Parliamentary Group on Land Value Capture

Monday, December 4, 2017 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Houses of Parliament, Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, 1 Parliament St, Westminster, London

SW1A 2JR

(Please allow circa 30 minutes to clear security at Portcullis House)

The Coalition for Economic Justice is organising this event. It will be Chaired by Sir Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal Democrats

Home owners collect £50Bn economic rent annually by not having to pay taxes on land uplift. ALTER Secretary David Cooper's article on Libdem Voice shows that this has the same impact on our economy as a currency forging ring with a £50bn turnnover.

ALTER's fringe meeting attracted a good audience for speakers Rachel Collinson, Green Party spokesperson on Energy, Business & Industrial Strategy (left), our vice chair Dr Tony Vickers, Chairman Joseph Bouke (standing) Heather Wetzel of the Labour Land Campaign, and David Ford of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland.

Calls from ALTER for taxation of property owners who are registered for tax outside the UK have resonated with our leader who called for "Fierce tax on overseas residents buying British property". Sir Vince Cable vistited the ALTER stand during the Bournmouth conference, here pictured with Chairman Joe Bourke and Secretary David Cooper.