Tax breaks for castle owners

[CarlV]

ROTF!!!

A TORY MP has risked infuriating struggling families hit by tax rises and benefits cuts by calling for a tax break for CASTLE owners.

Tony Baldry said in a Commons debate that more needed to be done to help aristocrats who owned ancient buildings.

The former Margaret Thatcher aide said last week: “The owners of historic houses in no way wish to be rentiers on the state.

“But in consideration of the fact that they continue to provide public access to their homes, and of the broader community and national benefit of historic houses, we have an interest in trying to get the balance right.”

Advertisement - article continues below »

But his comments have sparked outrage.

Labour’s John Mann MP said: “Only an out of touch Tory MP could argue that people who own castles should be first in the queue for tax breaks.

“Does he want us to pay for them to clean their moats as well?”

One of the MP’s constituents, Bernard Bovingdon, is fighting to save Bicester Day Centre, in Oxon.

Mr Bovingdon said: “The bloke in the castle, that’s a tough life for him. I don’t think MPs should be pandering to the rich.”

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...#ixzz1CjmosJwG