That sounds awfully like a bribe Blunko

[Barman]

Hound makes a good pint tho

Freudian slip?

I missed that... or should I say pished that? 

[Nick]

I sincerely hope so

[Grumpmeister]

Getting back on topic again, for a moment I thought we'd actually come across a member of the government with some integrity, but no, She has resigned from an unpaid voluntary position so it isnt as if she has given up a great deal.

A junior member of the government has told colleagues she is going to resign in protest at the abolition of the 10p tax rate, the BBC has learned.

Angela Smith, parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Yvette Cooper, told them she was leaving her post.

PPS is an unpaid position seen as the first rung on the government ladder.

Gordon Brown has come under pressure from Labour MPs who fear axing the 10p rate will hit low-income people.

Sheffield Hillsborough MP Ms Smith has previously been extremely loyal.

The prime minister, who is in the US on a three-day trip, also came under fire earlier from Labour peer Lord Desai who said: "Blair was like champagne and caviar, Brown is more like porridge or Haggis. He is very solid, very nourishing but not exciting."

Constituents' anger

More than 70 Labour MPs have signed one of three Commons motions calling for action on the abolition of the 10p rate of income tax.

The decision to scrap the lowest rate was announced in last year's Budget, when Mr Brown was still chancellor, as was the decision to cut the basic rate of income tax from 22% to 20% and increase tax credits.

  Gordon Brown's government is starting to unravel before our eyes

Nick Clegg, Lib Dems


But it has only just come into force and Labour MPs have been contacted by many constituents angry at the impact the decision is having.

Earlier this month the Commons Treasury committee said childless single people earning under £18,500 would lose up to £232 a year.

The government says the abolition to the 10p rate was an integral part of last year's Budget in which "millions of people" benefited from the decision to slash the basic rate of income tax.

It has said it will lead to "a significant increase" in pensioner tax allowance, a widening of the working tax credit and increases in child benefit and child tax credit.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: "Gordon Brown's government is starting to unravel before our eyes as Labour MPs see the full extent of the prime minister's betrayal of the most needy in our society.

"But it is a pity that it has taken Angela Smith a full year to react to Gordon Brown's callous decision when we warned the government of its consequences on the very day it was announced in the Budget."

[Barman]

It's a start tho - get the rope out...

[Just One More]

One phone call from Gordo and apparently she hadn't resigned, she had "issues about the 10p rate". Didn't take her long to forget her principles then. The whole lot make me seethe with anger. Barstewards

So what was she promised Gordo?

[Grumpmeister]

And surprise surprise, that MP who said she was going to quit has changed her mind. 

A junior member of the government who was thought to have quit has now said she is not going to leave - following a conversation with Gordon Brown.

The BBC learned that Treasury ministerial aide Angela Smith had told colleagues she was resigning over the abolition of the 10p income tax rate.

But Ms Smith later said this was not the case, although she acknowledged she had "concerns" over the policy.

The Tories said it was "astonishing" that she was still in the government.

Ms Smith, MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, is parliamentary private secretary to Chief Secretary to the Treasury Yvette Cooper.

Commons protests

She reportedly told Labour colleagues she was quitting the government over the recent abolition of the lowest rate of income tax, which critics say will unfairly hit low earners.

Ms Smith said in a statement: "It has been reported by various sources that I am about to resign from my post as PPS to Yvette Cooper.

"It is true I have concerns over tax changes and these have been discussed with senior government figures.

"I am reassured that my concerns are understood and that the government remains committed to its anti-poverty agenda. Resignation of my post is therefore not envisaged."

A Downing Street spokesman said Ms Smith had telephoned the prime minister, who is visiting the United States, to inform him that she was not resigning.

'Sticking to job'

For the Conservatives, shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "The astonishing news that a member of the government and aide to a Treasury minister can publicly threaten to resign over Gordon Brown's tax policy and yet remain in the government is evidence of how his authority is disintegrating."

The income tax decision was announced in last year's Budget, when Mr Brown was still chancellor, as was a reduction in the basic rate from 22% to 20% and increased tax credits.

Critics fear the axing of the 10p rate, which came into effect this month, will hit many people on incomes of less than £18,500.

Asked about criticism of the tax move during a press conference at the White House, Mr Brown said: "I'm sticking to the job and I'm getting on with the job."

More than 70 Labour MPs have signed at least one of three Commons motions criticising the reforms.

The government says the abolition of the 10p rate was an integral part of last year's Budget, in which "millions of people" benefited from the decision to slash the basic rate of income tax.

The prime minister also came under fire earlier from Labour peer Lord Desai, who said: "Blair was like champagne and caviar. Brown is more like porridge or haggis. He is very solid, very nourishing, but not exciting."

On Wednesday, Chancellor Alistair Darling said the government needed to "sharpen up" its message to voters.

[Barman]

Brown denies being 'pushed about'

The prime minister has defended the decision to compensate people who have lost money from tax changes, saying he was not "pushed about" by Labour MPs.

Source

 

 

[Grumpmeister]

I've been thinking about this whole 10p issue. While I'm not a fan of compensation culture seeing as its obvious that the government has failed in its duty of care to the lowest paid workers does that mean that some enterprising soul can take them to court for compensation?