Minister fails to end stamp duty speculation

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 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... [read full story]