Guido wonders what deselected Labour MP and Angela Rayner’s “soulmate” Sam Tarry would make of the candidate replacing him. Jas Athwal, candidate for Ilford South and Labour council leader in Redbridge, enjoys a more-than-extensive property portfolio. In addition to his home Athwal owns a whopping 15 extra properties in Redbridge alone. Committed Corbynite Tarry will be seething…
Labour has been murky on their plans for second homeowners and is facing high pressure to single out additional properties for extra revenue. It has not ruled out stamp duty hikes. Meanwhile, Welsh Labour is pushing ahead with its plans to address “property wealth” with satellite-assisted council tax hikes. Athwal is friends with Labour frontbench star Wes Streeting. Will the Shadow Health Secretary defend his property magnate chum against Rayner’s faction of tax-hike fanatics?
Sarah Pochin at Reform Scotland’s manifesto launch event: “I really wanted to come on in a Reform tartan burka, but apparently I wasn’t allowed… One day let’s do one of these events not live-streamed. We’ll do all the naughty stuff…”