Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has announced plans to abolish stamp duty on homes if the Tories get into office in order to encourage more home ownership. She stated this during the Tory Conference on Wednesday morning.
Badenoch, has been vocal in criticising Labour’s potential increases to property-related taxes, including stamp duty, while highlighting perceived hypocrisy in the government’s handling of such issues.
Badenoch has repeatedly attacked Labour’s tax policies on homes, warning of hikes in stamp duty, council tax rebanding, or even a new “annual family homes tax” or land value tax to fund public spending. In an August 11, 2025, Daily Mail column, she argued that Labour lacks “moral authority” to raise taxes on family homes, citing rising council tax bills (up £700 on average Band D homes over this Parliament) and potential capital gains tax on properties.
She insists homes are “the reward for years of hard work” and opposed Labour’s fiscal plans as a “tax raid on Middle England.”
During her latest speech she pointed out how youths were unable to own homes stating that the removal of stamp duty on homes was the right thing to do as it would benefit people of all ages.
UK Stamp Duty on Homes
Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is currently payable on home purchases over £250,000 (£425,000 for first-time buyers). Abolishing it would cost the Treasury around £13.8 billion annually, potentially offset by reforms to council tax. This was positioned as an appeal to Tory members and voters frustrated with housing costs.
Badenoch has constantly attacked Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who admitted to underpaying £40,000 in stamp duty on her £800,000 Hove flat in 2017–2018 due to a “mistake” in classifying it as her primary residence (complicated by a trust for her disabled son).
Badenoch seized on this during Prime Minister’s Questions on September 3, 2025, accusing Keir Starmer of “hypocrisy” for defending Rayner while Labour pushes tax rises. She demanded Rayner’s sacking, stating, “If you break the law, you should resign,” and contrasted it with past Conservative cases like Priti Patel’s.