Parliament forced to debate inheritance tax

A change to the law allowing elderly siblings who live together the same protections from inheritance tax as married couples or civil partners will be debated in the Commons this week.

The new law, which comes as part of an amendment to the finance bill by veteran Labour politician Frank Field, comes after two sisters failed in their attempt to challenge the current system through the European court of human rights.

The amendment would allow brothers and sisters who have co-habited for ten years the same rights as married couples or civil partners.