Cameron denies U-turn on tax break

Treasury Secretary Liam Byrne calls on Conservatives to explain their plans
12 April 2012

David Cameron has denied abandoning a headline pledge to recognise marriage through the tax system as Labour claimed the Tories' tax and spending plans were in disarray.

The Conservative leader was forced to issue a statement insisting he "definitely" remained committed to taking action in the next parliament after he had earlier appeared to suggest he was only hoping to do so.

The row broke as MPs were preparing to return to Westminster following the Christmas break amid frenetic campaigning by the parties, marking the start of what will be a general election year.

In a television interview, Mr Cameron said that he could not make promises "up front" on tax breaks for married couples because of the dire state of the public finances.

"It is something we believe we can do, it is something within a parliament I would definitely hope to do, but I am not today able to make that promise because we face this vast budget deficit," he said.

"The public understand, we cannot make all these promises up front."

Shortly afterwards, however, he issued a statement insisting that the commitment remained - although he did not spell out how it would be achieved.

"Recognising marriage in the tax system is something I feel very strongly about and something we will definitely do in the next parliament. We will set out exactly how in due course," he said.

But with Labour claiming that such a scheme would cost £5 billion to implement, shadow treasury chief secretary Philip Hammond acknowledged that they may, initially, have to go for a more limited proposal than previously envisaged.

Treasury Chief Secretary Liam Byrne said that, with an election only months away, the Conservatives needed to explain how they would pay for their plans.

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