Well I reckon they figured if the Scots were daft enough to put up with it, then the rest of the country would be no problem. Mind you the present system is hardly much better. It may be convenient to tax building ownership as it's difficult to move buildings, but it is hardly related to use of supplied resources nor ability to pay. (That said they are doing their best not to supply services any more and charging a second time for some where they think they can get away with it.) Obnoxious taxes. Should stick a penny or two on income tax and get rid of most of it.