Osborne’s Statement is likely to get stamp of approval

George Osborne has delivered an autumn statement that, provided it doesn’t unravel in the next few hours, should give him very good headlines.

He has abolished the old, unfair system for stamp duty and claims that his new system means 98 per cent of people buying new homes will pay less stamp duty as a result. The changes will come into effect at midnight tonight and those who have exchanged contracts but not completed will be able to take advantage of the reforms if they want. This is the measure that MPs will vote on in the mystery three-line whip division tomorrow, giving Labour 24 hours to decide what it thinks.

Most popular

Francis Pike

How the Black Death helped bring prosperity to Europe

Normally when pundits talk about ‘retail offers’ from Budgets and Autumn Statements, they mean something along the lines of scrapping air passenger duty for children.