10% tax, 90% trouble

Gordon Brown is in a right pickle over the abolition of the 10% tax rate. It's a problem entirely of his own making.

For some reason, Gordon Brown forgot his own Labour principles when he announced with a fanfare the decrease in the basic tax rate from 22% to 20%. He pushed principles aside to get a quick headline, achieving what Margaret Thatcher had always wanted. As usual with GB the detail was in the 2007 budget red book, and not in his speech. He had quietly forgot to mention the scrapping of the 10% tax band.

It was Gordon Brown, in 1999, who introduced the 10% tax band. It was a good measure to decrease tax for all, but was of disproportionate benefit to those on lower incomes. He now claims that he wants to simplify the tax system! It was he of course who complicated the tax system in the first place. Had GB decreased the basic rate of tax in 1999, all would have benefited and he would not be in his present mess.

Gordon Brown has made much play of his help to low earning families, but he forgets all those who don't have a child. He wants to take as much money as he can, then he give it back to you in state aid through tax credits and benefits. He knows best - or should I say - knew best. I think he has shown that his earlier political instincts have deserted him and shown him as a political opportunist. Unfortunately for Britain, he's crap at it and he's making poorer people's lives worse.

Squiffy.