Tory tax plan for married couples

Updated 14.17 Sat Aug 23 2008

Keywords: married couples, David Cameron, tax breaks, Tories, Gordon Brown, George Osborne, Conservatives

Married couples will get tax breaks under a Conservative Government, the Shadow Chancellor has said.

George Osborne insisted the Tories were ready for government, with he and leader David Cameron in agreement on using the tax system to support marriage.

George Osborne insisted the Tories were ready for government, with he and leader David Cameron in agreement on using the tax system to support marriage

He said: "Marriage will be recognised in the tax system. If I am David's Chancellor, which I fully expect to be, then I will implement that.

"Of course, everyone is entitled to choose how to live their lives and some marriages do fail, but we know that, in general, marriage is an institution that contributes to building a stronger society."

Details of the policy have not been finalised, nor has it been revealed how the tax cut will be funded.

Mr Osborne said first days of a future Conservative government were already being plotted out.