The Conservatives have claimed that the cost of stamp duty for the average house purchase has more than doubled since Labour came to power in 1997.

The Tories say that the one per cent flat rate on all property purchases worth more than £60,000 produced an average national bill of £680. Since then it has risen to £1,573.

Shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin said: "This is another example of Gordon Brown's 66 stealth tax rises. When house prices are rising and stamp duty thresholds do not rise with them, the chancellor increases taxes for homeowners."