On Monday I said that abolishing the 10p tax band was the only feasible option
New Labour had for funding their tax cuts for the middle classes, that it may give them a bit of a p.r. problem at the moment, but wouldn't
hurt them that much. It seems I was right, as the much vaunted backbencher rebellion on this subject collapsed yesterday, after the chancellor
Alistair Darling said he would look into ways to compensate some of the people
affected by the abolishment. Not a reinstatement of the 10p tax band or a full compensation to everyone mind, just more winter fuel allowances to
people between 60 and 64 as well as more tax credits for low income people with families. Note that both winter fuel allowances and tax credits
have to be claimed for, while of course paying less income tax happens automatically.
It's weak sauce, but the Labour rebels seem to have fallen for it. Which means that the last coherent reason for any leftist to still support
the Labour party for any reason other than pure tribalism has gone. If the Labour left can't even prevent the poorest people in the country
from being shafted, what does their existence still matter? The Tories couldn't have done worse.
The 10p tax backbench rebellion may have melted away like so much spring snow, but then it never was a real rebellion in the first place was it? It was just so much political theatre; funny how Frank Field always likes to stage his backbench rebellions when all looks ominous for Labour and usually just before a crucial vote or election, isn’t it?
This is just a place for me to jot down some random thoughts and reactions to the news so I don't have to yell at the television or radio, or mutter to myself whilst reading the news.
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