Keir Starmer refuses to rule out property tax rise during PMQs

Keir Starmer has declined to rule out a potential property tax increase, when pressed during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (15 October).

Responding to Conservative MP Peter Bedford, who asked for assurances that the government would not raise property taxes in the upcoming Budget, Starmer avoided giving a direct answer.

Bedford, referencing concerns from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) about the state of the housing market, urged the prime minister to restore confidence and improve affordability.

He also called on the government to consider adopting Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch’s proposal to abolish stamp duty on residential purchases.

In response, Starmer rejected what he called the Conservatives’ “so-called golden economic rule”, criticising it for relying on unfunded tax cuts and threatening further austerity for public services.

However, the prime minister left the property tax question unanswered, leaving the door open to potential changes when Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her Budget statement next month.

Is Rachel from accounts about to blow up the property market?