MiniMatt, it's late so I can't provide a response to your cogent argument (as usual). But I would like to point out it was me that expended the argument a little to include other taxes which may have provoked some of your response.
So Ed. my bad for bringing in other taxes. I totally agree that the rate of increase in Council Tax is way beyond inflation. I believe this was one of the ways in which New Labour was able to keep it's pledge to not raise Income Tax, by raising the revenue it would have provided in rate support via large Council Tax rises. And so we come full circle to the other taxes issue.
I'll try to make a better argument tomorrow.
