MP blasts Chancellor for backing second home owners with stamp duty cut

On the floor of the House of Commons this morning, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron accused the Conservative Government of ignoring rural communities in Cumbria by making it easier for people to buy second homes.

Speaking during the Chancellor's Statement in Parliament, Tim said: "Surely the Chancellor understands that the cut in stamp duty will do nothing to help 99% of people who can't afford their own home.

"But it will do huge amounts to make it easier and more attractive for people who want second, third, fourth and fifth homes in my constituency, in Cumbria and in other rural parts of Britain.

"Does he not realise the damage that excessive second home ownership and non-permanent occupied dwellings does to communities like mine, those in Cornwall, Northumberland and the rest of the country.

"Will he listen to rural Britain and stop backing second homeowners and back our communities instead?"

Responding, the new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng said: "We are backing his communities by reducing taxes, by creating the potential for investment zones, by the energy intervention - a whole host of measures that are backing ordinary, hard-working people."