ACTIVISTS at the Labour Land Campaign fringe have called for the introduction of a land value tax (LVT) to redistribute the ownership of land across the country.

The campaign wants to see unearned land wealth taxed to tackle wealth inequality, solve the housing crisis, to make homes affordable and fund public services.

A key part of this campaign is a levy on the value of land without regard to any developments on that land. 

North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll recalled the campaigns of the Levellers and Diggers 400 years ago.

“After all this time we are still talking about the fair distribution of land,” he said.

“We must give the people clear examples of how a land value tax will impact them with rock-hard facts and pick a lane and stick to it.”

West Scotland Labour MSP Katy Clark told activists that the power to make progress on land reform is devolved in Scotland and all the main parties included a commitment to a land value tax in their platforms.

She said: “The problem isn’t a technical one about what this would look like.

“It’s an unwillingness to take on vested interests. Partly because it could lead to more redistribution of wealth.”