This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24319583

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Conservatives bring forward second phase of Help to Buy Conservatives bring forward second phase of Help to Buy
(about 7 hours later)
The Conservatives have announced key plans on tax and mortgages ahead of their party conference in Manchester. A scheme designed to make it easier for people to get a mortgage will start next week, the Conservatives have said on the eve of their party conference.
David Cameron said a scheme to help people in England buy a home will begin next week, three months early. The second phase of Help to Buy, which will allow people in England to get 95% mortgages, had been due in January.
The second phase of Help to Buy, originally due in January, will allow people to take out 95% mortgages. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said David Cameron should bring forward investment to build more affordable homes instead.
Meanwhile, proposals for tax breaks for some married couples and civil partners have come under attack from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives will also announce a crackdown on police giving cautions for serious criminal offences.
Other policy announcements are set to include a crackdown on welfare payments and an expansion of free schools. Housing ladder
'Caps on aspiration'
The Help to Buy initiative, which applies to England only, aims to make it easier to afford a deposit for a property.The Help to Buy initiative, which applies to England only, aims to make it easier to afford a deposit for a property.
The government will guarantee 15% of a mortgage, allowing lenders to provide up to 95% mortgages at reduced risk.The government will guarantee 15% of a mortgage, allowing lenders to provide up to 95% mortgages at reduced risk.
In an interview in the Sun on Sunday, the prime minister said he was eager to get young people on the housing ladder.In an interview in the Sun on Sunday, the prime minister said he was eager to get young people on the housing ladder.
Mr Cameron said: "The need is now. I have always wanted this to come in and frankly the earlier the better.Mr Cameron said: "The need is now. I have always wanted this to come in and frankly the earlier the better.
"What concerns me is that you can't buy a house or a flat even if you are doing OK, you have got decent job prospects and good earnings."What concerns me is that you can't buy a house or a flat even if you are doing OK, you have got decent job prospects and good earnings.
"I am not prepared to be a prime minister of a country with caps on aspiration.""I am not prepared to be a prime minister of a country with caps on aspiration."
'Slap on wrist'
Responding to the announcement, Labour's Ed Balls said: "Rising demand for housing must be matched with rising supply, but under this government house building is at its lowest level since the 1920s.
"Unless David Cameron acts now to build more affordable homes, as Labour has urged, then soaring prices risk making it even harder for first time buyers to get on the housing ladder.
"You can't deal with the cost of living crisis without building more homes, so it's no wonder that for millions of families this is no recovery at all."
Elsewhere, new guidelines to be announced at the conference in Manchester will scrap the giving of police cautions for rape, manslaughter, robbery, child sexual abuse and other serious offences.
The Tories said the move would stop offenders who commit such crimes ending up "with just a slap on the wrist"
In other developments:
A Tory source said: "80% of our councillors didn't respond to this survey so it's hardly representative. It should be taken with a large pinch of salt."
In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron insisted he was "not chasing off to the right".
"I'm very firmly anchored where I have always been," he said. "Yes, I want to win back voters from Ukip."
Swing voters
Meanwhile, proposals for tax breaks for some married couples and civil partners have come under attack from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Mr Cameron said introducing tax breaks would mean four million married couples and civil partnerships - those paying lower tax rates - could be up to £200 a year better off from April 2015.Mr Cameron said introducing tax breaks would mean four million married couples and civil partnerships - those paying lower tax rates - could be up to £200 a year better off from April 2015.
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 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.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Cameron described marriage as a "great institution".
The prime minister has said stay-at-home mothers and women who worked part-time would be the main winners.
'Out of touch'
Under a deal with the Liberal Democrats, they would not be able to vote against the measure in any parliamentary vote but could abstain.
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Stephen Williams branded the move "a tax cut for some, paid for by everyone else".
Labour said the Conservatives were "out of touch" and the move was outweighed by higher VAT and cuts to child benefit and tax credits.
It added that two-thirds of married couples would not benefit from the £1,000 transferable tax 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 to £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."
But Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the policy recognised the value of the institution of marriage.
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".
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also announced plans to offer interest-free home loans to armed forces personnel.Defence Secretary Philip Hammond also announced plans to offer interest-free home loans to armed forces personnel.
Other policy announcements are set to include a crackdown on welfare payments and an expansion of free schools.
On the eve of the conference, 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, 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.
The conference will open on Sunday with a tribute to former Prime Minster Baroness Thatcher, who died aged 87 in April, and close with Mr Cameron's keynote speech on Wednesday.The conference will open on Sunday with a tribute to former Prime Minster Baroness Thatcher, who died aged 87 in April, and close with Mr Cameron's keynote speech on Wednesday.