Corbyn’s council tax hardliner ‘hid his second home’
THE Jeremy Corbyn ally who called for council tax hikes of up to 100 per cent on high- value properties has kept a second home secret from taxpayers, it was claimed last night.
Labour MP Chris Williamson was reported to the Commons authorities after it emerged he owns two homes. It is believed he and his partner are landlords and rent out the second of their two properties in Derby.
Under anti-sleaze rules, MPs who own a second home worth more than £100,000 – and/or earn more than £10,000 a year in rent from it – must declare it in the Register of Members’ Interests.
Asked why he made no such declaration since being re-elected as Derby North MP last year, Mr Williamson initially told The Mail on Sunday that his second home belonged to his partner Maggie Amsbury. After being told official Land Registry records show he is joint owner, he denied breaking Commons rules.
Questioned a third time, he said: ‘I will check with the parliamentary authorities on Monday. If I have made an inadvertent error I will correct it.’
He did not explain why during his previous term as Derby North MP he did declare ownership of a house in the area.
Leading Left-winger Mr Williamson was forced to quit the Labour front bench last week after he unveiled plans to hike council tax bills for the better off and freeze them for the poorest.
Under his proposals, properties in council tax bands D to H would rise, with 100 per cent increase for the most expensive. Labour chiefs feared it could cost the party votes, particularly in London where house prices are high, in May’s town hall elections.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said last night: ‘This looks like a clear breach of the register rules. If you own property worth over £100,000, you have to declare it.
‘Mr Williamson may be embarrassed to have to admit to his Leftie pals that he owns more than one home but he has no choice.’
According to Land Registry records, Mr Williamson owns two properties in Derby: his main family home, purchased in 2006, worth approximately £250,000; and another property, jointly purchased by Mr Williamson and Ms Amsbury in 2005, worth an estimated £215,000.