I think there is generally a political cost to any new tax because fear is more powerful than hope.

To overcome this, we have to be clear that it is not a money-raising measure, but that other taxes are cut in a fair way. The problem is that we have sold the Income Tax is fair" message hard. In fact the only recent time without a property tax, however crude, was that of the poll tax. And that tax package was so unfair it did permanent damage to the Tories."