Don't dither, Darling

This is the feeling of most of the industry and calls for Alistair Darling to make his mind up are growing daily.

Charles Wasdell, a director of Moveme.com, said: " Waiting for the autumn for Crosby's further recommendations is too late, and speculating about a stamp duty holiday will only cause further stagnation if immediate action is not taken. The Government can no-longer afford to sit back and procrastinate."

John Charcol’s Ray Boulger, said: “With the Chancellor’s confirmation that he is considering a temporary suspension of stamp duty, the already very low number of transactions in the housing market, approximately 60% down on last year, will diminish further until he sets out his proposals. After all who will want to commit to a property purchase now when it is probable that by waiting a few months stamp duty costs possibly running into tens of thousands of pounds can be avoided, and with The Chancellor’s blessing.

“The Government’s policy of leaking policy initiatives like this is not clever. They have been considering action on stamp duty along these lines for some time and should now announce a definite policy in the very near future.”

“Would the government please take off it’s hobnail boots and tread carefully over the tender shoots of new business,” said Graham Lock, co-founder of on-line estate agency Housenetwork.co.uk. “The stop-start behaviour over stamp duty has simply frozen many of our exchanges. Clients are understandably calling a halt on their deals and this is causing all kinds of negative consequences. It’s a classic case of clumsy messaging causing yet more mayhem.”