Abolishing stamp duty is right move

BY WEST SCOTLAND MSP PAM GOSAL

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Pledge Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told her party's conference that a future Tory government would abolish stamp duty

Like many of my friends and colleagues, I returned this week from Manchester's Conservative party conference with a spring in my step.

There was much from the event to be optimistic about but the headline policy announcement from leader Kemi Badenoch was the pivotal moment.

The pledge to abolish stamp duty should also put a spring in the step of people across West Scotland, too, especially the first-time buyers of property in the area.

The promise, which would be enacted by a future Conservative government, would have immediate consequences for Scotland.

Thanks to the SNP's desperation to be different, we may now call stamp duty something different Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) for those unfortunate enough to have had to pay it.