Ditherer Darling causes stamp duty row

By Sarah O'Grady
Posted: 2008/08/08

BRITAIN'S house buyers are pulling out of sales in their droves because of Alistair Darling's hints of a stamp duty "holiday".

Furious estate agents yesterday reported that buyers are withdrawing their offers at the last minute in the hope that they may escape paying thousands of pounds in tax by hanging on.

The Chancellor has been dubbed Ditherer Darling for his refusal to rule the plans - aimed at boosting the slumping property market - in or out.

And now property experts are calling on him to end the damaging speculation.

On Tuesday Mr Darling was asked about a possible plan to scrap the tax temporarily or let buyers postpone paying it for years.

The Chancellor refused to confirm or deny it, but said he was considering options.

There were reports yesterday that Mr Darling pulled out of an interview with the BBC's business editor Robert Peston.

Mr Peston told Radio 4 listeners that he had been asked if the interview would include questions about stamp duty.

The journalist said he could not see how he could not ask the Chancellor about the subject. The Treasury then cancelled his appointment with Mr Darling.

A spokesman at the Treasury said: "Recent news stories suggesting the Government has put forward a firm proposal on stamp duty are simply wrong."

Graham Lock, of estate agency Housenetwork. co. uk, said: "The stop-start behaviour over stamp duty has simply frozen many of our exchanges.

"It's irresponsible to let the speculation continue."