Leader announces tax cut plan for England and Northern Ireland in speech aimed at boosting fiscal credibilityThe Conservatives will scrap stamp duty on sales of primary residences if they win the next election, Kemi Badenoch has said, in a policy-heavy speech designed to improve her standing as Tory leader and her party’s economic credibility with voters.Badenoch told her party’s conference she would abolish the tax that new buyers in England and Northern Ireland have to pay on house purchases over £125,000, at an estimated cost of £9bn a year. Stamp duty would still apply to additional properties bought by companies, and for purchases by non-UK residents. Continue reading...