22 April 2008

Storm clouds gather for Tax of Mass Disaffection

How Gordon Brown must wish there was no such thing as televison. Yesterday's TV news shows ran footage from last year's budget when Brown was still Chancellor of the Exchequer. The clips show Brown commending the budget as a "Tax cutting" budget and making much of the cut in the basic rate of income tax from 22p to 20p in the pound. Interestingly, Brown failed to mention the total withdrawal of the lowest £1,500 band taxed at 10p in the pound. This was only mentioned in the small print of the budget document. The removal of this band has meant that up to 5.3 million people - all of them low paid - will now pay more tax than if the 10p band and the 22p basic rate had remained. This week, those low paid workers will see the full cost of this in their monthly pay packets.

Brown's dishonesty will cost him dear. The tax of mass disaffection is stirring up a rebellion amongst Labour MPs and Councillors. On 1st May, many of the country's voters go to the polls in local government elections. Don't expect the low paid to give Gordon Brown a vote of confidence.

No comments:

Post a Comment