Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice grilled by BBC local radio stations

Council tax on second homes is damaging property values, Tice sayspublished at 12:46 British Summer Time

12:46 BST

Zhara Simpson
BBC South West

During his conversation with BBC Radio Cornwall, Tice says the double council tax on second homes is “damaging property values”.

The Reform UK deputy leader says people in areas where the tax levy was introduced, including in Cornwall, are being led to put their houses on the market, which in turn means fewer people are visiting tourist areas.

“All the evidence I’m hearing about doubling council tax is that it’s being counterproductive,” he says, adding: “Sometimes you get what’s called the law of unintended consequences.”

Tice also says Reform’s aim is to prioritise brownfield land to tackle the local housing crisis.

“The initial focus should be on regenerating brownfield sites, regenerating villages, and towns and where you need to use non-brownfield sites, sometimes what they call grey areas, as opposed to green field, then those have got to be carefully and sensitively looked at.”