ast week, we revealed that a truly dreadful idea was being kicked around at the Treasury and No 10: a mansion tax, to be imposed either as a direct levy on expensive homes or as additional council tax bands. The news came as a shock to readers, long-standing party activists and anyone who lent the Tories their vote on the understanding that it was Labour that raided people’s pockets, not the Conservatives. So, it is most welcome we can now reveal that the Prime Minister has decided not to go ahead with the idea. Having quite rightly backed away from what would’ve been a disastrous and divisive move, the Government is now back focusing on a series of genuinely conservative priorities.