Squeezing until the pips squeak

The long-feared council-tax revaluation, postponed from the General Election year of 2005, is gathering pace. The aim is not to raise a little extra from each household but to hike bills by hundreds of pounds. It will be done simply by revaluing properties on the basis of soaring house prices. If the house you bought for £50,000 is now worth £120,000, it could be put in a higher tax band.

This revaluation, being tried first on the unfortunate folk of Northern Ireland, will mean misery for pensioners and others on fixed incomes.

But there is no escape. Council inspectors will be given draconian powers that any official in Hitler’s Germany would have envied.

They will be able to demand entry to our homes to seek out improvements such as a conservatory or new bathroom, or even to inspect the view. Residents who refuse to co-operate could be fined £1,000.

Tony Blair and his Government may blather about human rights. But what of the human right to a private life?

What about the right to a reasonable relationship with your local council instead of endless pressure to pay more for worsening services?

This vicious new atmosphere in town halls, where residents are regarded as fair game for tax demands and instant fines, is deeply depressing.

In Richmond upon Thames, the Lib-Dem council wants to impose vast increases, regardless of personal circumstances, on residents’ parking permits. Some will soar from £100 to £300.

All these council demands are simply ways of raising taxes and doing the Government’s dirty work for it. But councils should think twice before embarking on such daylight robbery.

Local government in this country has always worked on the basis of goodwill.

Today, for millions of honest citizens, town halls are seen as the headquarters of the enemy.

No substitute for a bit of good luck

A team of 17 lecturers in Bradford devised a mathematical plan to win the National Lottery.

Four years and more than £3,500 worth of tickets later, they have won a £5 million jackpot.

It looks impressive. So can academic logic triumph over the random tumbling of the Lotto balls? If these winners have cracked the secret, they can presumably do it again and again. We are watching . . .

In the meantime, as we reported last week, Irene Jones of Bilston accidentally broke a mirror, bought her Lotto ticket on unlucky Friday the 13th, used a random assortment of numbers based on birthdays - and scooped £9.3 million.

The only conclusion is that whatever method you use, there’s no substitute for luck.