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| David Cameron's marriage tax break plan under fire | David Cameron's marriage tax break plan under fire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tory plans for a married couples tax break have come under attack from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. | Tory plans for a married couples tax break have come under attack from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. |
| 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. |
| Labour said Mr Cameron was "out of touch" while his Lib Dem coalition partners accused him of favouring "one type of family". | Labour said Mr Cameron was "out of touch" while his Lib Dem coalition partners accused him of favouring "one type of family". |
| The scheme was unveiled as Conservative Party members gathered in Manchester for their annual conference. | The scheme was unveiled as Conservative Party members gathered in Manchester for their annual conference. |
| The tax break would apply if couples are both basic rate tax payers with one spouse earning less than the personal allowance, which will be just over £10,000 in 2015 and would also include 15,000 couples in civil partnerships. | The tax break would apply if couples are both basic rate tax payers with one spouse earning less than the personal allowance, which will be just over £10,000 in 2015 and would also include 15,000 couples in civil partnerships. |
| The basic tax rate of 20% is currently in place for up to £32,010 of taxable income. That means that - including a personal allowance - at current rates people would have to earn less than £41,451 a year to be eligible. | The basic tax rate of 20% is currently in place for up to £32,010 of taxable income. That means that - including a personal allowance - at current rates people would have to earn less than £41,451 a year to be eligible. |
| 'Support and sacrifice' | 'Support and sacrifice' |
| Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Cameron said: "There is something special about marriage: it's a declaration of commitment, responsibility and stability that helps to bind families. | Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Cameron said: "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." | "The values of marriage are give and take, support and sacrifice - values that we need more of in this country." |
| He later tweeted: "The £1000 marriage tax allowance will apply to straight and gay couples, as well as civil partners. Love is love, commitment is commitment." | He later tweeted: "The £1000 marriage tax allowance will apply to straight and gay couples, as well as civil partners. Love is love, commitment is commitment." |
| 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. |
| Under the coalition agreement, the Liberal Democrats would not be able to vote against the measure in any parliamentary vote but could abstain. | |
| The party's Treasury spokesman Stephen Williams branded the move "a tax cut for some, paid for by everyone else". | The party's Treasury spokesman Stephen Williams branded the move "a tax cut for some, paid for by everyone else". |
| He said: "You don't build a fairer society by using the tax system to favour one type of family over another. | He said: "You don't build a fairer society by using the tax system to favour one type of family over another. |
| "We should support all families, not just the minority of married ones where one person stays at home." | "We should support all families, not just the minority of married ones where one person stays at home." |
| Labour said the Conservatives were "out of touch" and the move was outweighed by higher VAT and cuts to child benefit and tax credits. | Labour said the Conservatives were "out of touch" and the move was outweighed by higher VAT and cuts to child benefit and tax credits. |
| Ed Miliband's party said around two-thirds of married couples would not save money under the plans, including higher rate taxpayers and couples in which both partners earn more than the personal allowance. | Ed Miliband's party said around two-thirds of married couples would not save money under the plans, including higher rate taxpayers and couples in which both partners earn more than the personal allowance. |
| Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves said: "The vast majority of children will see their parents get not a single extra penny from this so if you are a mum and dad and you're both earning £20,000-£25,000 a year, so on average earnings, you won't get any extra support. | Shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves said: "The vast majority of children will see their parents get not a single extra penny from this so if you are a mum and dad and you're both earning £20,000-£25,000 a year, so on average earnings, you won't get any extra support. |
| "So it's not a proper tax allowance for married couples. And even for those who do benefit it's just £3.85 a week." | "So it's not a proper tax allowance for married couples. And even for those who do benefit it's just £3.85 a week." |
| But Conservative Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the policy recognised the value of the institution of marriage. | But Conservative Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the policy recognised the value of the institution of marriage. |
| "It is an institution that is the building block of our society and we want to recognise that and this is a measure that's going to help four million hard working couples where life is pretty tough." | "It is an institution that is the building block of our society and we want to recognise that and this is a measure that's going to help four million hard working couples where life is pretty tough." |
| Welfare crackdown | Welfare crackdown |
| Tim Yeo, the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, told BBC Radio Suffolk that while he welcomed any institutions that support stability in society, in 2013 marriage "is not the only model for a family". | Tim Yeo, the Conservative MP for South Suffolk, told BBC Radio Suffolk that while he welcomed any institutions that support stability in society, in 2013 marriage "is not the only model for a family". |
| "I don't see why, for example, someone who has been widowed, whether it's a man or a woman, at a young age, and is trying to bring up children perhaps on a relatively low income, I regret the fact that the current proposal may exclude those people," he said. | "I don't see why, for example, someone who has been widowed, whether it's a man or a woman, at a young age, and is trying to bring up children perhaps on a relatively low income, I regret the fact that the current proposal may exclude those people," he said. |
| On the eve of the conference in Manchester, BBC Political Correspondent Iain Watson said the Tories would be trying to convince swing voters that they should be the party of choice for hard-working families. | On the eve of the conference in Manchester, BBC Political Correspondent Iain Watson said the Tories would be trying to convince swing voters that they should be the party of choice for hard-working families. |
| Other policy announcements are expected to include a crackdown on welfare payments and an expansion of Education Secretary Michael Gove's free schools programme. | Other policy announcements are expected to include a crackdown on welfare payments and an expansion of Education Secretary Michael Gove's free schools programme. |
| The conference will open with a tribute to Baroness Thatcher, who died aged 87 in April, and close with Mr Cameron's keynote speech on Wednesday. | The conference will open with a tribute to Baroness Thatcher, who died aged 87 in April, and close with Mr Cameron's keynote speech on Wednesday. |
| On the eve of the conference, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also announced a plan to offer interest-free home loans to armed forces personnel. | On the eve of the conference, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also announced a plan to offer interest-free home loans to armed forces personnel. |
| 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. | The free school meals policy will begin in September next year and will be worth about £437 per child. |