Blog

The current tax system hinders small business, with frequent changes, administrative burdens and growing levels of fraud, tax experts have warned MPs.

During an Opposition Day debate on 3 September, the Conservatives tabled a motion calling on the government to rule out a number of increases to taxes on property. The government did not do so.

An Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons on 3 September 2025 saw the Conservatives take up cudgels on behalf of the hospitality sector, moving a motion which, among other things, regretted the reduction in retail, hospitality and leisure business rates relief and the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions.

In the Scottish Parliament, in a debate on Scottish Government priorities, opposition MSPs criticised the SNP’s economic and tax policies. Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem and Green motions (the latter calling on the Scottish Government to “make bold use of its existing tax-raising powers”) were all voted down, while the SNP motion was passed.

With the Budget date now confirmed for 26 November, tax is at the top of the agenda for both government and opposition parties. But what changes can we expect, and how will the parties position themselves at their upcoming conferences? Our ‘back to Westminster’ scene-setter attempts to answer these questions.

Experts warn in this guest blog that some claims being made by firms offering help with SDLT refunds are too good to be true, and urge property buyers to exercise independent judgment before making a claim.

In this guest blog, Miles Gibson from the University of Cambridge reports on new research challenging the narrative that previous development taxes threw the British land market into disarray.

Economic Affairs Committee members pressed the Chancellor on levels of taxation and future plans during a session on 22 July. The Chancellor emphasised that her focus is on growing UK GDP so tax can be brought down without cutting public services.

In a new report, the House of Commons’ Scottish Affairs Committee has said it is far from clear whether Scottish VAT assignment is either realistic or possible and called on the UK Government to explain why it thinks the policy can still work.

A Conservative motion criticising the government for increasing taxes, calling on them to reaffirm that personal tax thresholds will be uprated in line with inflation once again from 2028–29, and urging them “not to introduce new taxes on the value of assets owned such as savings, homes and pensions” has been voted down by Labour MPs.