Full Breakdown
Conservatives Unveil Deregulation Blueprint at Birmingham Conference
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Policy Details and Expected Savings
The proposals include abolishing Natural England and the Environment Agency, with their functions transferred to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). A single developer charge would replace existing Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy, which the party says would speed approvals and cut the average cost of a new-build home by up to £50,000.
The Conservatives also plan to scrap the Extended Producer Responsibility (Extended Packaging Responsibility (EPR)) scheme, arguing that removing it would lift a £1.5 billion burden from businesses and help lower weekly shop costs. Additional measures aim to eliminate the future homes standard that currently requires low-carbon heating technologies, and to simplify the tax code, which Griffith described as overly complex.
Official Statements & Responses
Griffith told Sky News the party’s first budget would be “tax-cutting” but warned that some policies could take longer to deliver, noting the need to finance any new measures. He said the party ultimately aims to abolish inheritance tax if a financing method can be found.
Criticism & Opposition
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper dismissed the proposals, stating, “No-one can take anything the Conservatives say on the economy seriously given their litany of fantasy-land financial pledges.” Reform UK Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick claimed the Conservatives were “once again copying our policies” and could not match Reform’s pledge to raise the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000.
Upcoming Fiscal Outlook
Chancellor John Healey has said the forthcoming budget on 28 October will be built on “the rock of fiscal discipline” and aim to give families and businesses “a bit of breathing space.” The Conservative proposals will be contrasted with that budget when the party next seeks electoral office.