Defence Secretary underpaid council tax on second home

LABOUR faced a fresh tax row last night after Defence Secretary John Healey admitted not paying enough on his second home.

- BY MARTYN BROWN Political Editor

Healey paid up after being asked about the error

The Cabinet minister underpaid close to £1,500 in council tax on the flat he rents in Westminster, blaming an “administrative error” by the council.

Mr Healey is supposed to pay £2,938 in tax annually to Westminster city council for the flat, following the introduction of the second-home council tax surcharge in April.

But it has emerged he paid just half that much for this tax year, before rectifying the mistake on Thursday after being asked about it.

TRUST