UK Conservatives set out tax-cutting and deregulation agenda
Shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith is due to outline Conservative proposals to cut taxes, reduce regulation and lower house-building costs at the party’s conference in Birmingham. The plans include replacing developer levies, abolishing two environmental bodies, scrapping packaging rules and backing a third runway at Heathrow.
Conservative shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith is due to set out plans for the UK economy on the second day of the party’s conference in Birmingham. His proposals include tax cuts, reduced regulation and measures intended to lower the cost of building homes. Griffith is expected to describe the programme as the “most ambitious deregulation project in a generation”.
The Conservatives say changes to environmental and energy-efficiency rules, including the future homes standard, could reduce the cost of delivering a new home by up to £50,000 and help buyers. The party wants to replace section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy with a single charge on developers. It says the change would remove delays and improve how money for local projects and services is spent.
The Conservatives also propose abolishing Natural England and the Environment Agency, with their functions transferred to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The plans include scrapping the Extended Packaging Responsibility scheme, which requires companies to pay for collecting, recycling and disposing of packaging. The Conservatives argue this would ease a burden on businesses and could lower shopping costs.
On infrastructure, Griffith is expected to support expansion at Heathrow, including a third runway. The plans were scrapped by the Conservative-led coalition government in 2010. The source says Labour former Chancellor Rachel Reeves has supported the runway, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to say whether he backs it.
The proposals have drawn criticism from opponents. Reform UK economy spokesman Robert Jenrick accused the Conservatives of copying his party’s policies, while Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper called them financially unrealistic. Griffith’s speech follows leader Kemi Badenoch’s publication of a 100-page document setting out her principles and the party’s approach to a possible return to government.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.