We now have solely ourselves accountable for the UK’s land monopoly | Land possession

Whereas we would fume on the eviction of an entire village by its landlord, we solely have ourselves accountable for permitting such energy to stay within the fingers of so few (A whole village in Dorset is going through eviction – proof that personal cash holds all the facility in rural England, 28 June). Even socialist governments have balked at coping with the problem of land monopoly, and we’ve got failed to carry them to account.

In 1909, when landed energy was largely synonymous with the aristocracy, Tom Johnston, later to change into secretary of state for Scotland, famous that land titles had initially been created “both by drive or fraud”. He urged the individuals to “shatter the romance that retains the nation numb and spellbound whereas privilege picks its pocket”.

As George Monbiot’s article reveals, land monopoly at present just isn’t confined to the aristocracy. The best approach to neutralise its energy can be by way of land worth taxation, which might make sure that those that declare to personal the nation bear its working prices.

In 1910, the Inland Income initiated a full survey of land use, worth and possession throughout Britain. It was accomplished in 5 years, however the outbreak of struggle and a change of presidency meant the proposed tax measures have been by no means carried out. Our current Labour authorities has 4 years to repeat the train and reform our damaged tax system. It ought to begin now.John DigneyStirling

The eviction of the inhabitants of Littlebredy in Dorset by their new proprietor Bridehead Property Ltd, excoriatingly uncovered by George Monbiot, has a powerful historic echo from the 1770s at Milton Abbas, lower than 30 miles away.

Lord Milton purchased Milton Abbey, close to Dorchester, in 1752. Functionality Brown was introduced in to “enhance” the encircling panorama. He confronted the issue of what to do concerning the ugly medieval village of greater than 100 households. The answer was to maneuver it. In 1774 Brown drew up plans for a brand new “mannequin village” of latest houses. Over the subsequent decade the villagers have been decanted, some towards their will, to new houses in Milton Abbas. Barely a hint of the previous village exists.

Lord Milton is usually cited as one of many worst examples of the callous ostentation frequent among the many English landowning Whig oligarchy of the 18th century. However not less than he felt obliged to rehouse his tenants. Judging from Monbiot’s piece, it appears that evidently a company landowner in at present’s Britain just isn’t even obliged to do this when it decides to socially engineer an inconvenient group out of home and residential.Robin GutchLondon