Hammond dodges death tax’ furore
He axes plan like Labour idea he mocked
A D-DAY memorial on the Normandy beaches where 21,000 Brits died to liberate France is to get £20million of Treasury funding.
The cash will come from banker fines, with plans to unveil the tribute on June 6, 2019 – the 75th anniversary of the offensive.
The names of the Allied dead who fought alongside British troops will also be inscribed.
The Chancellor said: “We have a duty to ensure that their names will be remembered for generations to come.”
The Normandy Memorial Trust, which is backed by the Royal British Legion, will now launch a public appeal to bolster the Government funding.
Prime Minister Theresa May added: “We must never forget the courage, sacrifice and selflessness of the British servicemen and women who gave their lives.” PHILIP Hammond cut a death tax to fund social care from Wednesday’s Budget to avoid looking a plonker.
The Chancellor was instead persuaded to throw £ 1billion at the elderly because he rubbished Labour when then PM Gordon Brown proposed something similar in 2010.
Mr Hammond, who was Shadow Treasury Secretary at the time, said: “Grieving families forced to stump up £4.5billion a year death tax shows what a terrible solution this is to the problem of long-term care.”
Mr Brown had proposed a 10 per cent levy on top of inheritance tax, which is now charged at 40 per cent on estates above £325,000.
Mr Hammond was looking at reviving the scheme until aides highlighted the potential political embarrassment. But even £1billion is not nearly enough to solve the care crisis.
Helen Sutherland of accountants EY said: “This alone will not plug the gaps driven from increasing demand, costs and historic underfunding.” A Whitehall source said: “The death tax will happen but not yet.”
Meanwhile, expect an extra 22p for 20 cigarettes, while 10- packs and rolling tobacco below 30g will be banned. Pints face a 1p rise after a four-year freeze and wine a 5p hike.
But Brexit means spirit duty will be frozen for the second year to help the Scotch whisky industry, which earns £5billion in exports.
Motorists avoid fuel duty rises for 18 months but will fear hikes in Insurance Premium Tax.
The personal tax allowance rises £500 while Corporation Tax drops to 19 per cent next month and to 17 per cent in 2020 to match Singapore’s and attract post-Brexit business.