Stamp Duty Land Tax

Caroline Johnson Excerpts

Tuesday 28th October 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir Mel Stride]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The reasons that we need to abolish this tax include the fact that it stands in the way of younger people getting on to the housing ladder. To use the words of Paul Johnson, it “gums up” the entire system of house purchasing in our country. He said:

“It may look like a tax on wealthy people who move house but it also acts to reduce effective supply for everyone.”

That includes first-time buyers.

[Dr Caroline Johnson (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con)]

My right hon. Friend is making an excellent speech. Does he agree that stamp duty also gums up mobility, so that people are unable to move, and if they lose their job under this Labour Government it will be more expensive for them to move to another house?

[Sir Mel Stride]

My hon. Friend is exactly right. The tax does precisely that. It stops people moving to where the work is, to get better jobs and further themselves. Who wants to move to one place and pay stamp duty, and then move to another to pay more stamp duty? It does not add up.