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Property Taxes 2025-09-03 (1)
03 September 2025
Lead MP
Emily Darlington
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Economy
Other Contributors: 22
At a Glance
Emily Darlington raised concerns about property taxes 2025-09-03 (1) in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Under the last Government, despite 27 tax rises, Government debt rose from 60% of GDP to 100.5%. The shadow Chancellor's government left a £22 billion black hole and caused a 6% fall in home ownership among young people aged between 25 and 34. Inflation peaked at 11.1%, food inflation hit a 45-year high, and the UK recorded double-digit inflation. Under this Government, there are plans for renters’ rights reform, mortgage reform, and building 1.5 million new homes including council homes and social properties.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
My constituents are concerned about rumoured tax rises due to Labour breaking promises on council tax, national insurance, and first-time buyers. There is a worry that the Government may scrap private residence relief, leading to an average £33,000 tax bill when selling a family home. This would be economically ruinous.
Louie French
Con
Old Bexley and Sidcup
Residents in Bromley and Bexley are hit by the Mayor of London’s 77% increase in his share of council tax since he took office, alongside various driving taxes. Scrapping private residence relief would be another burden.
Mark Ferguson
Lab
Gateshead Central and Whickham
The Opposition debates are about imagined proposals as they have settled into the comfortable aspect of opposition without setting out actual plans for the country. The Conservatives’ Budget led to chaos, with families paying hundreds or thousands more due to increased interest rates.
Gregory Stafford
Con
Farnham and Bordon
The Treasury is preparing destructive taxes on homeowners including capital gains tax on family houses, a revaluation of council tax, and even a land value tax. These levies will strip thousands from budgets already stretched to the limit.
North East Derbyshire
I think the record that we, the Labour Government, had to deal with when we took over last year bears repeating. We have heard theories propounded on the relationship between tax and growth and public spending, and we have heard that if we only lowered taxes, we would enter a glorious period of growth and even better public services, but the fact is that the impact of those theories and that ideology over the last 14 years has been clear to see. Austerity cut the engines of our economy, leaving us with public services that were not delivering for British people.
Ann Davies
PC
Caerfyrddin
I begin by referring the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I represent a rural, agricultural community. As we look forward to a Budget for Christmas, this Labour UK Government’s last autumn Budget remains of significant concern.
West Dorset
Over half of UK farms have a net value of over £1.5 million. Farmers are already worried about the family farm tax and are now looking at the potential tax rises that the Government are floating for the upcoming Budget, including increased rates of inheritance tax and other forms of property taxes.
Laurence Turner
Lab
Birmingham Northfield
It is a pleasure to be called in this debate, even if I must start by questioning the wisdom of the Opposition’s decision to bring forward today’s motion. After all, the memories and consequences of their so-called mini-Budget are still fresh—the culmination of Liz Truss’s economic policies, which the present Leader of the Opposition said were “aspirational and inspirational”.
Laurence Turner
Lab/Co-op
Constituency Not Mentioned
The hon. Member discusses the impact of sharp cuts in local authority resourcing and increases in council tax on his constituents, highlighting a specific case where a 10% council tax increase was approved by Conservative Ministers.
Ashley Fox
Con
Bridgwater
The hon. Member criticises the Labour Government for increasing public expenditure far beyond their manifesto promise and expresses concern over high borrowing costs, arguing that this could lead to higher taxes or further borrowing in the future.
Oliver Ryan
Lab/Co-op
Burnley
The hon. Member questions Sir Ashley Fox's claim about the surge in borrowing costs and attributes it to Liz Truss’s mini-Budget, arguing that it started before the current Chancellor's tenure.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
The hon. Member voices concerns over business investment due to uncertainty about future tax increases, aligning with Sir Ashley Fox’s argument about stifling economic growth.
Luke Murphy
Lab
Basingstoke
The hon. Member defends the Labour Government's fiscal actions and highlights their efforts in stabilizing the economy, including interest rate cuts, trade deals, and investments in infrastructure and affordable housing.
Ashley Fox
Con
West Worcestershire
Supports the argument that speculation about additional taxes causes economic uncertainty, resulting in further slowdown of business activity.
Jeevun Sandher
Lab
Loughborough
Argues against tax rises by highlighting past failures under previous governments. Emphasises the need for investment to build social housing (£40 billion-worth), citing progressive, growth-enhancing and easy-to-implement tax principles.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
Critiques Labour's economic policies, highlighting rising borrowing costs, flatlining growth, and increased taxes. Expresses concern over proposed property taxes, changes to inheritance tax relief affecting agricultural properties, business rates discount reduction for hospitality sectors, and potential council tax revaluations.
The hon. Member points out that the so-called 'free' school meals are not truly free but come at a cost to schools themselves.
As a former teacher, she refutes Robbie Moore's point and continues using the term 'free' for school meals. She highlights additional initiatives such as breakfast clubs, childcare support, and NHS investment.
Melanie Ward
Lab
Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
Ms Ward criticises the Conservatives for ignoring the economic inheritance left behind by their previous government. She mentions the Conservative's decision to put Liz Truss into Downing Street as a mistake. She defends Labour's economic management, highlighting wage growth, reduction in mortgage costs due to lower interest rates, and investments in infrastructure like Kirkcaldy regeneration funding.
James Cleverly
Con
Braintree
The shadow Secretary criticises the current government for consistently raising taxes. He argues that speculation about future tax increases is damaging to economic confidence, citing concerns from gilt markets and the Bank of England.
Ben Coleman
Lab
Chelsea and Fulham
Coleman welcomes the new Exchequer Secretary and highlights Labour's commitment to homeowners and renters through leasehold reform, providing renters stability, and building 1.5 million more homes to address the housing crisis left by the previous government.
Stuart questions the transparency of the Government's tax rises, noting that Labour had promised £7 billion in tax rises but delivered £40 billion. He challenges the Government to commit to being more transparent with both markets and taxpayers regarding future tax changes.
Shadow Response
None
Shadow Response
The shadow Secretary criticises Labour's tax policies, arguing that speculation about future tax increases is damaging to economic confidence. He highlights concerns from gilt markets and the Bank of England.
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Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
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