NIGEL Adams, Rossendale's Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate, has added his backing to new calls to reduce the burden of stamp duty on first time buyers and families.

New research has revealed that in Lancashire since 1997, the average first time buyer is paying £899 more in tax to get on the housing ladder.

A typical home owner in Rossendale is paying £1,219 in stamp duty.

Nigel Adams said: "The tax system has become unfair and complex. Taxes have been put up 66 times.

"Pensioners, homeowners, businesses and families on all income levels are paying more to a government which is not giving them value for money.

"Taxes have risen by £5,000 per family, but 5,000 people still die every year from infections picked up in hospital.

"Like council tax and inheritance tax, the burden of stamp duty has now become unfair and in this case, indiscriminately hammering first time buyers and hard-working families."

The Conservatives have unveiled proposals for consultation to help reduce the burden of stamp duty on Rossendale's residents.

They include:

Exempting first-time buyers to help them get on the housing ladder;

Linking the stamp duty thresholds to changes in house prices, stopping the increase in homebuyers being hit by the tax;

Doubling the lower stamp duty threshold to £120,000.

Nigel Adams added: "Conservatives are consulting on a number of ways in which we can help homebuyers by reforming stamp duty to make it fairer.

"I would like the views of local residents across the Valley on how we can deliver taxpayers better value for money, and give families and first time buyers a foot up the housing ladder."