By James Chapman PUBLISHED: 18:18 EST, 29 September 2013 | UPDATED: 01:35 EST, 30 September 2013 Mockery: Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman, pictured at last week's Labour party conference, was accused of 'sneering' after she criticised David Cameron's plans to give married couples a tax break Labour and the Liberal Democrats were accused of ‘sneering’ at marriage yesterday as David  Cameron said he would like to go further in restoring recognition for the institution in the tax system. Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls led  criticism of the Prime Minister’s plans for a £1,000 transferable tax allowance for married couples, and the Lib Dems also condemned it – opening up a key general election battleground.
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Deputy Leader Harriet Harman criticised the plans on Twitter
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Shawdow Chancellor Ed Balls said women would 'lose out'
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Prime Minister said he was 'proud' of the proposals
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Ian Duncan Smith claims policy will help 'eight million people'
But Mr @placeholder admitted that opponents of same-sex unions gained backing because he failed to explain that religious groups would not be forced to conduct gay marriage ceremonies against their will.