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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ministers have 'frozen' housing | Ministers have 'frozen' housing |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has attacked the government for a "completely reckless" briefing that stamp duty could be axed temporarily to boost house sales. | David Cameron has attacked the government for a "completely reckless" briefing that stamp duty could be axed temporarily to boost house sales. |
| "Far from freeing up the housing market, they have actually frozen it," the Conservative leader told reporters. | "Far from freeing up the housing market, they have actually frozen it," the Conservative leader told reporters. |
| He is holding talks later with the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) - a body he claims the government has refused to meet. | He is holding talks later with the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) - a body he claims the government has refused to meet. |
| It comes after Alistair Darling refused to rule out changes to stamp duty. | It comes after Alistair Darling refused to rule out changes to stamp duty. |
| Estate agents have already warned that uncertainty over the government's policy on the tax could cause people to delay buying houses. | Estate agents have already warned that uncertainty over the government's policy on the tax could cause people to delay buying houses. |
| Leak inquiry? | Leak inquiry? |
| Speculation was fuelled by a report in last Tuesday's Sun newspaper that the government planned to offer a holiday from stamp duty payments to revive the flagging sector. | Speculation was fuelled by a report in last Tuesday's Sun newspaper that the government planned to offer a holiday from stamp duty payments to revive the flagging sector. |
| When tackled about the story on Wednesday's Today programme, the chancellor said a "number of measures" were being considered - but the government had come to no conclusions. | |
| The Treasury later issued a statement saying: "Recent news stories suggesting the government has put forward a proposal on stamp duty are simply wrong. These stories are based on speculation." | The Treasury later issued a statement saying: "Recent news stories suggesting the government has put forward a proposal on stamp duty are simply wrong. These stories are based on speculation." |
| Their decision to brief out the possibility of a stamp duty holiday was completely reckless David CameronConservative leader | Their decision to brief out the possibility of a stamp duty holiday was completely reckless David CameronConservative leader |
| According to some reports, the original briefing came from Downing Street and was aimed at undermining Mr Darling - something firmly denied by Number 10. | According to some reports, the original briefing came from Downing Street and was aimed at undermining Mr Darling - something firmly denied by Number 10. |
| Mr Cameron, who has returned to the political frontline, following a holiday in Cornwall, said the debacle showed the government was more interested in "press handling and headlines than what is in the best interests of the country". | Mr Cameron, who has returned to the political frontline, following a holiday in Cornwall, said the debacle showed the government was more interested in "press handling and headlines than what is in the best interests of the country". |
| He urged the government to adopt the Conservatives' plan to abolish stamp duty for nine out of 10 first time buyers. | |
| "When it comes to the crisis in our housing market they seem intent on making things worse rather than better," he said. | "When it comes to the crisis in our housing market they seem intent on making things worse rather than better," he said. |
| North East tour | |
| "Their decision to brief out the possibility of a stamp duty holiday was completely reckless - far from freeing-up the housing market they've actually frozen it. | "Their decision to brief out the possibility of a stamp duty holiday was completely reckless - far from freeing-up the housing market they've actually frozen it. |
| "Have they even got a leak inquiry to find out how this was briefed out? I think not. I think they know exactly where it came from." | "Have they even got a leak inquiry to find out how this was briefed out? I think not. I think they know exactly where it came from." |
| Mr Cameron, who will tour marginal constituencies in the North West of England before resuming his summer break with a holiday in Turkey next week, is set to meet with housing trusts, city economists, academics and house builders to discuss the property market. | Mr Cameron, who will tour marginal constituencies in the North West of England before resuming his summer break with a holiday in Turkey next week, is set to meet with housing trusts, city economists, academics and house builders to discuss the property market. |
| The group will look at the mortgage market, repossessions and the housing supply, he said. | The group will look at the mortgage market, repossessions and the housing supply, he said. |
| "We won't be announcing any conclusions today. We won't be briefing out thoughts today. This is a seminar to look at the issues - it's to engage with the experts to help us develop our policies," he added. | "We won't be announcing any conclusions today. We won't be briefing out thoughts today. This is a seminar to look at the issues - it's to engage with the experts to help us develop our policies," he added. |
| Miliband praise | |
| The monthly briefing comes as ex-local government minister Nick Raynsford accused Labour of being in a "deep hole" and warned that attempts to "buy" support would only invite contempt. | The monthly briefing comes as ex-local government minister Nick Raynsford accused Labour of being in a "deep hole" and warned that attempts to "buy" support would only invite contempt. |
| Writing on newstatesman.com, Mr Raynsford accused the government of a "frantic search" for vote-winning ideas. | Writing on newstatesman.com, Mr Raynsford accused the government of a "frantic search" for vote-winning ideas. |
| He failed to mention Gordon Brown, but praised the call by Foreign Secretary David Miliband to "start winning the argument over our record". | He failed to mention Gordon Brown, but praised the call by Foreign Secretary David Miliband to "start winning the argument over our record". |
| Mr Miliband fuelled speculation over the Labour leadership when he penned an article two weeks ago calling on colleagues to have the confidence to make their case afresh - but without making a reference to the prime minister once. | Mr Miliband fuelled speculation over the Labour leadership when he penned an article two weeks ago calling on colleagues to have the confidence to make their case afresh - but without making a reference to the prime minister once. |
| The prime minister, who is on holiday, is expected to launch a fightback in September. | The prime minister, who is on holiday, is expected to launch a fightback in September. |