Minister fails to end stamp duty speculation

Last Modified: 08 Aug 2008 Source: ITN Housing minister Caroline Flint has failed to put an end to speculation that stamp duty is to be suspended. Ministers have been accused of dithering and risking a collapse in house sales after the idea first emerged earlier this week. But Ms Flint refused to confirm or deny that a duty freeze would form part of Gordon Brown's economic recovery package expected to be unveiled in the autumn. She said the Government was looking at a range of issues to tackle the slump in the housing market. The minister acknowledged that homeowners and people planning to sell their properties were going through a "tough time", but she said freezing stamp duty would not necessarily "kickstart" the housing market. Chancellor Alistair Darling said he was looking at a "range of options" to boost the faltering... [read full story]