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Tories consider marriage tax help Tories consider marriage tax help
(30 minutes later)
Married couples where one person does not work should get a £20-a-week tax break, a Tory policy group suggests. Married couples should get a £20-a-week tax break when one parent stays at home to look after children, a Conservative policy group suggests.
Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith's policy group also wants higher benefits of £32-a-week for married parents to bring them into line with lone parents. Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith's report sets the cost of "social breakdown" in the UK at £102bn a year.
Mr Duncan Smith said the balance had to be "re-set" in favour of marriage. He said the current tax system failed to reward the "benefits which marriage brings to society".
But the government said the Tory proposals would "discriminate" against the children of single parents and those of unmarried couples. But Labour said the Tory proposal would "discriminate" against children of single or unmarried parents.
Binge drinkingBinge drinking
The Conservatives are expected to adopt some of the ideas outlined by the policy group, which says the cost of more than £6bn could be met by tougher welfare rules.
It's not going to be a golden bullet Iain Duncan Smith
The transferable tax allowance, worth around £20-a-week, would be aimed at making it easier for one parent to stay at home to look after children or elderly relatives.The transferable tax allowance, worth around £20-a-week, would be aimed at making it easier for one parent to stay at home to look after children or elderly relatives.
It's not going to be a golden bullet Iain Duncan Smith
If applied to all married couples, it would cost £3.2bn a year.If applied to all married couples, it would cost £3.2bn a year.
Further proposals among the 200 put forward by the group include:Further proposals among the 200 put forward by the group include:
  • Raising tax on alcohol to tackle binge drinking
  • Raising tax on alcohol to tackle binge drinking
  • State schools judged as "failing" to be taken over by parents and charities, with pupils in disadvantaged schools getting £500 for extra tuition - academic, musical or sporting
  • State schools judged as "failing" to be taken over by parents and charities, with pupils in disadvantaged schools getting £500 for extra tuition - academic, musical or sporting
  • Reclassifying cannabis - which was downgraded to a class C drug - back to class B
  • Reclassifying cannabis - which was downgraded to a class C drug - back to class B
  • A greater role for credit unions offering low-interest loans to low-income families to help protect them from loan sharks
  • A greater role for credit unions offering low-interest loans to low-income families to help protect them from loan sharks
  • Raising the gambling age limit from 16 to 18
    • The Conservatives are expected to adopt some of the ideas outlined by the policy group.
    Asked about the tax-break plan, Mr Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not going to be a golden bullet that says somehow this will persuade everybody to come together and stay together.Asked about the tax-break plan, Mr Duncan Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's not going to be a golden bullet that says somehow this will persuade everybody to come together and stay together.
    "It's part of a balanced package of benefit changes and taxes that will actually say to people: look, it's not to penalise you any more.""It's part of a balanced package of benefit changes and taxes that will actually say to people: look, it's not to penalise you any more."
    Mr Duncan Smith said the current system "penalised people who are wanting to stay together" and that he was "trying to re-set the balance".Mr Duncan Smith said the current system "penalised people who are wanting to stay together" and that he was "trying to re-set the balance".
    'Wrong to preach''Wrong to preach'
    But Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband said the government would not "discriminate against some children" in its tax policy.But Cabinet Office Minister Ed Miliband said the government would not "discriminate against some children" in its tax policy.
    He also said: "I don't think it's right for politicians to come on and preach."He also said: "I don't think it's right for politicians to come on and preach."
    Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman David Laws said: "A lot of the [Conservative] solutions are a bit naive - to think that we can simply tweak the taxation system and bring about a big change in people's behaviour."Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman David Laws said: "A lot of the [Conservative] solutions are a bit naive - to think that we can simply tweak the taxation system and bring about a big change in people's behaviour."
    Mr Duncan Smith's policy group warned last year that an underclass was being "left behind".Mr Duncan Smith's policy group warned last year that an underclass was being "left behind".
    The Conservatives have said mending Britain's "broken society" should be a top priority - rather than the traditional emphasis on tax and crime.The Conservatives have said mending Britain's "broken society" should be a top priority - rather than the traditional emphasis on tax and crime.
    Party leader David Cameron has called for more voluntary and community action to deal with social breakdown.Party leader David Cameron has called for more voluntary and community action to deal with social breakdown.