Blair urges charity plans u-turn

Former prime minister Tony Blair has urged the government to re-think its plans to limit the tax relief on charitable donations.

Downing Street has announced that the government will launch a formal consultation in the summer over plans.

Ministers say they want to end the practice of wealthy people minimising their tax bill - sometimes to zero - by donating to charity.

But the planned cap has been criticised by Labour and philanthropists, as well as some senior government figures.

Mr Blair - in Washington to give a speech to the Global Philanthropy Forum - said the government had other ways to raise money.