Osborne scraps review of deeds of variation

Deeds of variation provide for family members to alter the distribution of a deceased's estate and can also be used to lower tax liabilities. The Chancellor George Osborne announced during the Budget in March that the government would be reviewing their use. This came after it emerged then Labour leader Ed Miliband had used the mechanism to change his father's will. But the government announced on 25 November it would not introduce new restrictions but would "continue to monitor their use".