Tax at centre of Tories' election campaign
The Tories have fired some of the first shots in their General Election build-up by pledging to put tax centre-stage of any campaign.
Link: Conservatives propose new tax ‘direction’
Highlighting the estimated £10bn debt in government coffers, the Conservatives have guaranteed to lower taxes if they return to power.
The tax cuts will be paid for by pruning back government ‘waste and bureaucracy’, they claimed.
Launching an ‘alternative’ Queen’s Speech, leader Michael Howard pledged a reduction in taxes would be central to the party’s plans. The Tories have also pledged to scrap stamp duty for first-time homebuyers spending below £250,000 and exempt all payments for properties less than £120,000.