Married couples could face a tax break of £150 per year

Government source reveals Conservatives are keen to implement measure sooner rather than later

A government source has revealed that the Conservatives want to implement tax breaks for married couples, a pledge promised by David Cameron in the 2010 coalition deal. The precise detail of the tax break is not yet known but it is expected to be worth £150 a year to basic-rate taxpayers. Married couples where one partner stays at home are also expected to be favoured by the new measure. Cabinet Ministers including Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling have all indicated they would like to see the measure included in the upcoming Budget. Previously, it was assumed that the Chancellor, George Osborne, would introduce the tax break in his final Budget before the General Election in 2015. The move is expected to please social conservatives, who have been angered by the Coalition’s decision to legalise gay marriage and cut child benefit from higher-earning families. The Lib Dem side of the Coalition object to any special recognition of marriage and are expected to abstain from voting. However, at current estimate, if they abstain, the Tories vote in favour and Labour vote against, the measure will be successfully passed and become law.

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