Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash explains how 100% of Hartlepool households would see their council tax bills fall
I’m often asked a simple question when I talk about abolishing council tax: “What would actually replace it?”
It’s a fair challenge and one that deserves a straight answer.
Last week in Parliament, I brought together dozens of MPs from across the political spectrum to commit to proper reform of council tax.
It builds on work I’ve led since being elected, including establishing the first ever All-Party Parliamentary Group on council tax reform.
For too long, this system has been treated as untouchable. It isn’t.
The replacement we are proposing is called a Proportional Property Tax.
In plain terms, it means every home pays a small, fixed percentage (0.48%) of its current value, not outdated 1991 bands.
Crucially, everyone is treated fairly because the same rule applies everywhere: Tax is based on today’s value, not historic guesswork.
Alongside this, we would abolish stamp duty on family homes, which currently punishes people for moving, whether for work, family, or downsizing.
We would also end the unfair “bedroom tax”, which penalises people in social housing simply for having a spare room.
For Hartlepool, the impact is significant.
Under this approach, 100% of households would see their bills fall, with an average saving of around £950 a year.
That is real money back into people’s pockets at a time when every pound matters.
Critically, this is not about cutting funding to local services. The system would be designed so councils still receive the money they need, with fair national redistribution where required.
What changes is how that money is raised, making it more transparent and less reliant on outdated local tax bands that bear no relation to modern property values.
There are also protections built in for people who are “asset rich but cash poor”, particularly pensioners, although with 100% of households in Hartlepool benefiting, this is less of a concern.
At its heart, this is about fairness and trust.
And let’s be honest, this won’t be an easy fight. There are those in wealthier parts of the country who’ve benefited from the current system for years and will resist change.
But here in Hartlepool, I want you to know this: As long as I have breath in my body and your support behind me, I will keep fighting our corner.