Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch has indicated the party could commit to scrapping or reducing inheritance tax if it was to be elected in an interview with The Times.
Ahead of the party’s annual conference in Birmingham this week, Badenoch said scrapping inheritance tax would be “morally right” but any commitments would have to be “fiscally responsible”
“It is morally right that people don’t get taxed twice” said Badenoch, adding: “It is morally right that if you work hard and want to give something to your children the government doesn’t take it away.” Any abolition would be for those who “sweat everyday… the ones who commit most to Britain and they’re the ones that Labour is hammering.”
Badenoch is set to address conference on Wednesday of this week.
Details of that speech have emerged over the weekend with the party confirming it would increase the threshold at which parents get tax-free childcare. Badenoch said the party would increase the current £100,000 cliff edge at which people lose up to £20,000 worth of childcare benefits, describing it as “unfair”, adding she did not want people to stop or reduce work as a result.
The conservative party leader also hit back at plans to change the triple lock after the Labour party said it would switch to a “double lock” from 2030 saying as a policy introduced by the-then Conservative government, it was the” right policy for pensioners.”
Over the weekend, the government announced a scaling back of plans to press ahead with no-jury criminal trials. Technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences will be heard by a judge alone with new powers for magistrates to hand out longer sentences. Millions of pounds is to be invested in new technology to modernise courts and judges will be given the resources they need to hear more cases.
Newly sworn in Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said: “This government inherited criminal courts on the brink of collapse, with victims waiting years for their day in court. I remain committed to bringing down the backlog and delivering swifter justice for those who so desperately need it. But I have heard the strength of feeling on the proposals for increasing the number of judge-alone trials in the Crown Court and have made the decision to change course.
“Justice delayed is justice denied, and I am committed to maximising efficiencies in our system alongside record investment. I remain committed to structural reform which is crucial if we are to bring down the backlog.”
The Law society applauded the “common sense position” whilst calling for investment in legal aid and representation.
