Duncan Smith calls for marriage tax breaks
Work and pensions secretary to remind David Cameron of pre-election pledge
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF tax breaks for married couples should be speeded up, work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith is expected to say.
Duncan Smith (pictured) will use his Conservative Party conference speech today to remind Prime Minister David Cameron of the party’s pre-election commitment to give married couples a tax break, the Daily Telegraph has reported.
The Cabinet minister is thought to be one of the leading pro-family advocates in the government, and will say that two-parent families are “vital for the creation of a strong society”.
“I intend for our welfare reforms to make an impact on the couple penalty where it matters most – amongst families on the lowest incomes,” Duncan Smith will say.
“Furthermore, the prime minister has made it clear that in this Parliament the government will recognise marriage in the tax system.”
However, Chancellor George Osborne indicated over the weekend that tax cuts were unlikely while the world economy was in its current state.