IHTM20151 | Life Policies: trusts of life policies: policy settled on its own trusts: express life interest in favour of settlor
From HM Revenue & Customs · Inheritance Tax Manual
If
the only property settled is a policy on the life of the settlor, and
the settlor is given an express life interest, and
there is no clear indication that the settlor is not to receive any income produced during their lifetime
the settlor is considered to have an interest in possession (IHTM16062) in the policy.
Unless there is a clear indication of that the settlor is not to receive income it is considered impossible that the settlor did not intend to take any benefit from the only property in a settlement under which they have given themselves a life interest.