Angry Tories accuse Osborne of caving in to Lib Dems on tax

The Chancellor has been accused of “kow-towing” to the Liberal Democrats by refusing to include the measures.

Recognising marriage in the tax system has long been a demand of Conservative traditionalists.

However, senior Treasury sources told a Sunday newspaper that the idea would not feature in next month’s financial package.

Stewart Jackson MP, who stepped down from the Government last year as a Ministerial aide, said deferring the introduction of marriage tax allowances represented a “failure of leadership” by David Cameron.

“I urge George Osborne to reconsider this decision,” he told the newspaper. “There is a great deal of evidence that shows marriage has many economic and other benefits to society.

“Not to introduce this feels like kow-towing to the Liberal Democrats.”

Philip Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley, said: “We need tax cuts to help the recovery. A transferable allowance for married couples supports the institution of marriage, making it even more laudable.

“The Government should be doing more to cut public spending and cut taxes. Half of the cost of marriage tax allowances could be paid for simply by cutting aid to India.”

Philip Hollobone, Tory MP for Kettering, said he largely blamed the delayed implementation of this tax relief on opposition from the Lib Dem high command, who were are blocking a policy most voters want to see introduced.