Brown tries to quell growing revolt over tax rise for the poor

9.23.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 8th Apr 2008

Gordon Brown has moved to quell a backbench revolt over the abolition of the 10p income tax band amid fears it will hit some low-paid families. Mr Brown has assured former Labour whip Greg Pope - who tabled a Commons motion calling for action which was signed by 43 Labour MPs - that he will look again at the impact of the changes. This comes after Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe criticised alcohol tax rises in this year's Budget, although he later backtracked, saying, peculiarly, "my comments do not accurately reflect my views". Health Minister Ivan Lewis recently criticised Gordon Brown's style of government. Commentators have suggested that the Government is in disarray.

The income tax changes made by Gordon Brown in his last Budget represent a tax cut for the wealthy dressed up as a tax cut for the poor. Liberal Democrats pointed that out on the day they were announced. It seems Labour MPs have taken more than a year to wake up to it. The daily splits and disagreements within the Labour parliamentary party, even at ministerial level, are a sign of the growing disarray and sheer absence of competent management in Gordon Brown's administration.