Chancellor’s duty

I WOULD love to downsize from my large and empty nest, but have found that stamp duty is a double-edged barrier to selling my house to a younger, growing family.

A buyer would have to pay a huge sum to the Government for the privilege of upsizing, while I would need to find a five-figure sum to move into a smaller property. Net result — housing market frozen.

I suggest that in his autumn statement, the Chancellor waives duty on a downsize if two completion statements can be produced. JOHN BUNKER, Milton Keynes, Bucks.