David Cameron to fast-track marriage tax breaks

Marriage tax breaks plan will be introduced this year in a move to head off a revolt by Tory backbenchers.

07:11 02 July 2013

Plans for tax breaks for married couples are expected to be introduced this year. This will allow unemployed wives and husbands to transfer part of their tax-free allowance to their partners.

This move is seen as an attempt to placate restless Conservative backbench MPs.

Mr Cameron said: “The point is that we are going to be putting in place the marriage tax proposal in law. We will be announcing plans for that in this parliament, quite shortly in fact.”

The move will reportedly form a key part of Mr Cameron’s party conference speech in October.

 

Meanwhile, not everybody is happy with the move. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that “it’s not fair.” He explained: "This desire of the Conservative Party to hand-pick couples through the tax system who conform to their image of how you should conduct your life, I don't think it's fair.”

"And I certainly don't think it's fair on all those other people who are going to have to pay higher taxes to fund this proposal.”

Julianne Marriott, director of the Don’t Judge My Family campaign opposed to marriage tax being written into tax laws, said: “This marriage tax announcement isn't about keeping families together; it's about keeping the Tory party together."