Budget 2017: 'Pressure' in Wales after stamp duty move

With stamp duty due to be abolished for first time buyers in England up to £300,000, one Cardiff estate agent said it poses a question for Welsh Government whether they follow suit from next year.

Stamp duty relief applies in Wales until April 2018, when it is devolved and the Welsh Government's new Land Transaction Tax is due to be introduced.

Finance Secretary Mark Drakeford says there is still scope to change the new Welsh version of stamp duty in response to big changes to the tax for first time buyers announced by the Chancellor.

The land transaction tax, which comes into effect in April in Wales, means that no-one pays stamp duty on a property worth up to £150,000.

Estate agent David Ricketts says as it stands this would be a more staged approach and ministers may come under pressure to fall into line with what is being offered in England.