If elected, the Conservative Party will crack down on persistent benefit cheats and keep the stamp duty threshold at £250,000.
In its Manifesto, there is a warning for persistent cheats that they would lose state support for up to three years, with plans for a three strikes policy. The Tories have accused Labour of wasting £30 billion on fraud and error in the benefits system since 1997.
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Theresa May pledged a tough crackdown on repeat offenders and said current levels of fraud were "scandalous". Claimants caught committing benefit fraud once would lose their out-of-work benefits for three months, a second offence would result in a six-month sanction, and a third offence would see the benefits withheld for up to three years.
The Tories said existing rules removing benefits for 13 weeks for those convicted of fraud twice were not robust enough. The new pledge would apply to Jobseeker's Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support - though vulnerable claimants, such as parents, would have benefits reduced rather than cut off.
Theresa May said:
"For too long Labour have let benefit cheats play the system, costing the taxpayer millions. It is astounding that since 1997 welfare waste has cost the public £80 every second.
"We want to send out a strong message to people who fleece the taxpayer - you could lose your out-of-work benefits for three years. This is about fairness. While the whole country is tightening its belt, it's scandalous that thousands are managing to defraud the taxpayer out of billions."
The Manifesto contains no housing targets but pledges to create "a property-owning democracy where everyone has the chance to own their own home."
It confirms plans to match pound-for-pound the Council Tax receipts that local authorities receive from new homes to encourage "sensitive local development". Local housing trusts will be created to allow communities to grant planning permission for new housing within villages and towns.
It also proposes a new stamp duty threshold, which will be permanently raised to £250,000 for first-time buyers.
