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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| David Cameron unveils marriage tax breaks plan | David Cameron unveils marriage tax breaks plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Plans for tax breaks for some married couples worth up to £200 a year have been announced by David Cameron. | Plans for tax breaks for some married couples worth up to £200 a year have been announced by David Cameron. |
| The prime minister said four million couples would benefit from a £1,000 transferable tax allowance from 2015. | The prime minister said four million couples would benefit from a £1,000 transferable tax allowance from 2015. |
| The move, announced ahead of the Tory conference, comes after deal with the Liberal Democrats to introduce free school meals for children under eight. | The move, announced ahead of the Tory conference, comes after deal with the Liberal Democrats to introduce free school meals for children under eight. |
| Labour said Mr Cameron was "out of touch" if he thought the scheme would encourage people to get married. | |
| The tax break would apply if couples are both basic rate tax payers and would also include 15,000 couples in civil partnerships, from April 2015. | The tax break would apply if couples are both basic rate tax payers and would also include 15,000 couples in civil partnerships, from April 2015. |
| 'Happiest day' | |
| Benefits from the scheme would come through initially at the end of the tax year in 2016. | Benefits from the scheme would come through initially at the end of the tax year in 2016. |
| Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Cameron said: "I believe in marriage. Alongside the birth of my children, my wedding was the happiest day of my life. | |
| "Since then, Samantha and I have been a team. Nothing I've done since - becoming a Member of Parliament, leader of my party or prime minister - would have been possible without her. | "Since then, Samantha and I have been a team. Nothing I've done since - becoming a Member of Parliament, leader of my party or prime minister - would have been possible without her. |
| "There is something special about marriage: it's a declaration of commitment, responsibility and stability that helps to bind families. | |
| "The values of marriage are give and take, support and sacrifice - values that we need more of in this country." | |
| He added: "And of course this will be true if you're gay or straight - and in a civil partnership or a marriage. | |
| "This summer I was proud to make equal marriage the law. Love is love, commitment is commitment." | "This summer I was proud to make equal marriage the law. Love is love, commitment is commitment." |
| Election pledge | Election pledge |
| Mr Cameron said stay-at-home mothers and women who worked part-time would be the main winners. | Mr Cameron said stay-at-home mothers and women who worked part-time would be the main winners. |
| He promised tax breaks for married couples when he ran for the leadership of his party in 2005, and it was also part of the Conservative election manifesto in 2010. | He promised tax breaks for married couples when he ran for the leadership of his party in 2005, and it was also part of the Conservative election manifesto in 2010. |
| The Liberal Democrats are opposed to the measure but under the coalition agreement they would not be able to vote against it in any parliamentary vote but could abstain. | The Liberal Democrats are opposed to the measure but under the coalition agreement they would not be able to vote against it in any parliamentary vote but could abstain. |
| It has been suggested the Lib Dems were able to announce plans for every child in England between reception and year two to get free school lunches in exchange for the Conservative's proposed tax break. | It has been suggested the Lib Dems were able to announce plans for every child in England between reception and year two to get free school lunches in exchange for the Conservative's proposed tax break. |
| The free school meals policy will begin in September next year and will be worth about £437 per child to families. | The free school meals policy will begin in September next year and will be worth about £437 per child to families. |
| 'All families' | |
| For Labour, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves said: "David Cameron's so-called marriage tax break won't even help two-thirds of married couples, let alone millions of people who are separated, widowed or divorced. | |
| "He's so out of touch he thinks people will get married for £3.85 a week. | |
| "And even for the minority who might benefit, it will be far outweighed by what David Cameron's government has already taken away in higher VAT and cuts to child benefit and tax credits. | |
| "David Cameron also needs to explain how this policy will be paid for. Will he be raising taxes or making cuts elsewhere to fund this? | |
| "At a time when millions of people are facing a cost of living crisis we should be helping all families and not just some." | |
| Campaign group Don't Judge My Family criticised the move. | |
| It said the scheme was about "promoting a fantasy 1950s family" and would not benefit many of the families who needed most support. | It said the scheme was about "promoting a fantasy 1950s family" and would not benefit many of the families who needed most support. |
| The Conservative Party conference takes place in Manchester from Sunday. Mr Cameron will close the conference with his keynote speech on Wednesday. | The Conservative Party conference takes place in Manchester from Sunday. Mr Cameron will close the conference with his keynote speech on Wednesday. |