Clause 1

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Luke Evans

Monday 12th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)]

indicated dissent.

[Dan Tomlinson]

Maybe later.

I turn to the contribution of my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough. His speech—I had hoped it would be even longer; I am somewhat disappointed not to have heard more from him—provided a clear exposition of the benefits of the modest changes the Government are setting out in this group of clauses, which are being considered by the Committee of the whole House.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dan Tomlinson]

In opening debate on this second group of clauses, I want to reflect on why we are making changes to the tax system. I am looking forward to no interventions at all on this speech from Opposition Members—their interventions seemed to dry up in my last speech, so maybe they have now finished with them. Of course, we make these changes to modernise the tax system, to make it fair and fit for purpose and to adapt to a changing world, but we also make these changes so that we can raise the revenue to fund our public services. Yes, the Bill holds thresholds constant till the end of the decade, but in doing so contributes to our being able to renew our public services while maintaining the highest levels of public investment in four decades to stimulate economic growth and ensure that those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share.

[Dr Evans]

Will the Minister give way?

[Dan Tomlinson]

I will; it is good to see that the interventions are back on.

[Dr Evans]

When the Chancellor looked at these measures for her first Budget, she said that they would breach her manifesto commitments. Does the Minister believe that they breach the manifesto commitments?

[Dan Tomlinson]

This Government have stuck to their manifesto commitments. We were very clear about not wanting to change the rates of income tax. I have been in discussions with Opposition Members about the wording of our manifesto; I am glad that Conservative Members have taken such interest in it. We are sticking to our commitments. The tax changes that we are discussing now, and others, will allow us to do things such as lift 550,000 children out of poverty this Parliament, by removing the two-child limit and expanding free breakfast clubs and free school meal eligibility. They allow us to cut waiting lists and cut the cost of living by delivering £150 off energy bills. All that would be threatened by Opposition Members, who do not support the taxes needed to fund decent public services.

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[Dr Luke Evans]

Will the Minister give way?

[Dan Tomlinson]

I will make a little progress, if I may. I have already taken two interventions on this exact point.

We know that there will be a broad-based effect, but as I have said, we are making other changes so that we ask as little as possible of those who will be affected by the change. We are making lots of changes to ensure that those with the broadest shoulders pay their fair share. I think that that is a fair and necessary decision to raise tax revenue in order to fund public services and restore economic stability.

Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Luke Evans

Monday 5th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Dan Tomlinson]

I cannot update my hon. Friend at this moment, but I would be happy to write to him on that point.

[Dr Luke Evans (Hinckley and Bosworth) (Con)]

The Government say they have been listening carefully, but they had 14 months and four votes to listen to the Opposition and the farming community. One question is: what changed the Government’s mind? The second question is: who made the decision—the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, the Prime Minister or the Chancellor—and how long did they take to persuade the others to make that right decision?

[Dan Tomlinson]

Government decisions are made collectively. Yes, the Government have listened to farming communities and farming businesses, and to representatives of family businesses that would also have been affected by the £1 million BPR threshold, which was the same as the APR threshold.

Social Security Benefits

Debate between Dan Tomlinson and Luke Evans

Tuesday 4th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dr Evans]

I believe that under the Budget, the Government are not looking to review the position until 2028, so those on the state pension have to submit a tax return, because the state pension is being taxed.

[Dan Tomlinson (Chipping Barnet) (Lab)]

It was what you did.

[Dr Evans]

Agreed. That was brought in by a previous Government, and we in the Conservative party campaigned to remove it. Can the Minister confirm that the situation will remain in place until 2028?

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[Dan Tomlinson]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention on the same important topic raised by the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr Dillon). I know that the Government are looking at this issue and at how we can reform the welfare system to support people to get the money they need and have the incentives and the right approach to welfare to help more people get into employment. That is the long-term sustainable route to reducing poverty and I hope we can do more to achieve it.

[Dr Luke Evans]

rose—

[Dan Tomlinson]

I am happy to give way, although I perhaps should make some progress.

[Dr Luke Evans]

The hon. Member makes a fantastic point about the family unit. The last Government were looking at introducing a measure on household income, particularly with child benefit, to try to make sure that we see people not as individuals, but as a group. That could stop such things as the child benefit cliff edge. However, the new Government took that measure away in the Budget. Would he make the argument to his Front Benchers that looking at household units—the family unit—is a positive way of seeing how we can support people?

[Dan Tomlinson]

That is important in some respects. One of the challenges with the policy that the hon. Member identifies is that we tax people on an individual basis and the benefits he refers to are often linked to the tax system. He raises an important point, and I am sure it is being considered.

I will make some progress and conclude my remarks. I am supportive of the increase in the state pension and of the triple lock. I know we have already had a little ding-dong about it, but it is the case that the shadow Chancellor, the right hon. Member for Central Devon (Mel Stride) said that the triple lock was unsustainable. Perhaps he was referring to the long term, but that still concerns me, not least given what I have said about young people benefiting most from increases in the state pension over time.

I am glad that in April the 20,000 pensioners in my constituency will receive either a £470 uplift if they are on the new state pension or, I believe, a £360 uplift if they are on the basic rate of state pension. That is incredibly important for living standards. I spent many years living with my grandparents part-time. They taught me a lot, and many of my values have come from them. We know how much care older people can provide to family and to their communities, and I see that in Chipping Barnet. At almost every community event, whether that is a local church, an institution or a charity doing good in the community, there are so many retired people giving their time and care, making Barnet—my corner of north London that I have the pleasure of representing—a better place to live. Providing that security in retirement is so very important.