“James Ashton's article in the Evening Standard (4th December) on the new progressive stamp duty system attempts to lay down some of the pitfalls of a higher revenue on top end properties, but I'm not sure that even he believes in the counter argument that he is making. Clearly it's fairer; I'm not sure many people are going to be lamenting a slowdown in the profits being made by estate agents in the £10m plus housing market.