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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tories 'committed to tax pledge' | Tories 'committed to tax pledge' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke insists the Conservatives are committed to abolishing inheritance tax on estates worth less than £1m. | Shadow business secretary Ken Clarke insists the Conservatives are committed to abolishing inheritance tax on estates worth less than £1m. |
| He was trying to calm speculation that followed comments he made earlier to the BBC. | He was trying to calm speculation that followed comments he made earlier to the BBC. |
| He had said the state of the public finances meant raising the threshold for the tax was only an "aspiration". | He had said the state of the public finances meant raising the threshold for the tax was only an "aspiration". |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson then said the Conservative tax plans had been "thrown into confusion". | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson then said the Conservative tax plans had been "thrown into confusion". |
| After his initial comments to the BBC, Mr Clarke issued a statement saying the Tories were fully committed to raising the inheritance tax threshold in the first parliament of a Conservative government. | After his initial comments to the BBC, Mr Clarke issued a statement saying the Tories were fully committed to raising the inheritance tax threshold in the first parliament of a Conservative government. |
| He said the measure would appear in the party's manifesto and that he supported it. | He said the measure would appear in the party's manifesto and that he supported it. |
| Key point | Key point |
| On Sunday, Mr Clarke told BBC One's Politics Show the priority was to stabilise public finances in a way which hopefully did not necessitate tax rises for most people. | On Sunday, Mr Clarke told BBC One's Politics Show the priority was to stabilise public finances in a way which hopefully did not necessitate tax rises for most people. |
| Ken Clarke: "The highest priority is tackling debt" | |
| He said raising current inheritance tax thresholds was an "aspiration" which the party retained and hoped to get around to "sooner or later". | He said raising current inheritance tax thresholds was an "aspiration" which the party retained and hoped to get around to "sooner or later". |
| Lord Mandelson said in response: "Ken Clarke's comments have thrown [shadow chancellor] George Osborne's tax plans into confusion." | Lord Mandelson said in response: "Ken Clarke's comments have thrown [shadow chancellor] George Osborne's tax plans into confusion." |
| The Tories' proposal in 2007 to cut inheritance tax was seen as a key point in reviving party fortunes. | The Tories' proposal in 2007 to cut inheritance tax was seen as a key point in reviving party fortunes. |
| Conservative leader David Cameron and Mr Osborne have insisted they will stick to the plans, despite other difficult decisions on tax and spending. | Conservative leader David Cameron and Mr Osborne have insisted they will stick to the plans, despite other difficult decisions on tax and spending. |
| BBC News political correspondent Carole Walker says the Tory pledge has been undermined by Mr Clarke's comments and that the party cannot afford indiscipline on its economic plans. | BBC News political correspondent Carole Walker says the Tory pledge has been undermined by Mr Clarke's comments and that the party cannot afford indiscipline on its economic plans. |