This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7330007.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Labour MPs angry over tax changes Brown fights backbench tax revolt
(20 minutes later)
Labour is facing a revolt from its own backbenchers over the abolition of the 10p starting rate for income tax. 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.
Some 43 Labour MPs have signed a Commons motion saying the move - announced in last year's Budget - is hitting low-paid families. Mr Brown has assured Labour MP Greg Pope - who tabled a Commons motion calling for action - he will look again at the impact of the changes.
It comes after minister Gerry Sutcliffe criticised alcohol tax rises in this year's Budget, although he later backtracked and said he supported them. Mr Pope's motion - signed by 43 Labour MPs - has now been withdrawn.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith denied the government had a "discipline problem". It comes after a junior minister criticised alcohol tax rises, although he later backtracked.
In his final Budget as Chancellor last year, Gordon Brown paid for a 2p cut in the basic rate - to 20p - by abolishing the 10p lower rate. In his final Budget as Chancellor last year, Mr Brown paid for a 2p cut in the basic rate - to 20p - by abolishing the 10p lower rate.
'Detrimental impact''Detrimental impact'
Most of the five million families households left worse off by the move were compensated by increases in tax credits.Most of the five million families households left worse off by the move were compensated by increases in tax credits.
But some were not and 43 Labour MPs have now signed a Commons motion attacking the "detrimental impact on a number of low-income groups". But some were not and 43 Labour MPs signed a Commons motion attacking the "detrimental impact on a number of low-income groups".
The motion also "calls on the government to take the needs of this small, low-income group into account in the forthcoming Budget". The motion also called "on the government to take the needs of this small, low-income group into account in the forthcoming Budget".
Mr Brown was confronted by MPs over the issue on Monday, when he addressed the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Mr Pope withdrew the motion following meetings with senior ministers.
The former whip told The Guardian: "I have been given assurances by senior ministers that they will look at its impact, especially on pensioners, some of whom are losing more than £200 at a time of rising fuel costs".
Mr Brown was confronted by Labour MPs over the issue on Monday, when he addressed the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Nia Griffith, a former ministerial aide, was among those to tackle him.Nia Griffith, a former ministerial aide, was among those to tackle him.
'Better-off''Better-off'
She told BBC Radio 4's The World At One on Thursday that it did "not look good" to voters and said the Treasury should make the corrections it should have made much earlier.She told BBC Radio 4's The World At One on Thursday that it did "not look good" to voters and said the Treasury should make the corrections it should have made much earlier.
"We should have woken up to it sooner and it would have been easier to do something about it earlier on. It's something we should look at," she told the programme."We should have woken up to it sooner and it would have been easier to do something about it earlier on. It's something we should look at," she told the programme.
The prime minister's official spokesman said the changes needed to be seen in the context of a decade of other policies.The prime minister's official spokesman said the changes needed to be seen in the context of a decade of other policies.
"Since 1997, as a result of all the tax and benefit changes that have come into effect, people on low incomes are significantly better off.""Since 1997, as a result of all the tax and benefit changes that have come into effect, people on low incomes are significantly better off."
A second early-day motion calling on Chancellor Alistair Darling to reverse the abolition of the 10p rate, tabled by Labour backbencher Greg Pope, has been signed by 30 MPs, including 26 Labour members.A second early-day motion calling on Chancellor Alistair Darling to reverse the abolition of the 10p rate, tabled by Labour backbencher Greg Pope, has been signed by 30 MPs, including 26 Labour members.
'Very concerned''Very concerned'
Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said he was concerned that that change would hit young single people without families, such as his own 23-year-old daughter.Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton said he was concerned that that change would hit young single people without families, such as his own 23-year-old daughter.
He said "a number" of backbench MPs who back the government's general direction were "very concerned" about the change and want Chancellor Alistair Darling to reverse it.He said "a number" of backbench MPs who back the government's general direction were "very concerned" about the change and want Chancellor Alistair Darling to reverse it.
"I don't think it is too late to say we miscalculated and we are going to put it right," he told BBC Radio 4's PM."I don't think it is too late to say we miscalculated and we are going to put it right," he told BBC Radio 4's PM.
"Far better to do that than to say we are right and we don't care that people are worse off.""Far better to do that than to say we are right and we don't care that people are worse off."
Mr Hamilton said he had voted in favour of the package of tax changes when they were announced in the 2007 Budget.Mr Hamilton said he had voted in favour of the package of tax changes when they were announced in the 2007 Budget.
'Disarray''Disarray'
But he added: "I think we were told at the time that there would be almost no-one who would suffer, and have a lower income as a result, and have to pay more tax.But he added: "I think we were told at the time that there would be almost no-one who would suffer, and have a lower income as a result, and have to pay more tax.
"In the end, I think it is unacceptable to ask the poorest people in our country, those with the lowest incomes, to pay more tax.""In the end, I think it is unacceptable to ask the poorest people in our country, those with the lowest incomes, to pay more tax."
Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe sparked a row on Thursday after he told pub trade newspaper The Morning Advertiser he thought alcohol tax rises announced in this year's Budget were wrong.Licensing Minister Gerry Sutcliffe sparked a row on Thursday after he told pub trade newspaper The Morning Advertiser he thought alcohol tax rises announced in this year's Budget were wrong.
He said: "I think the industry's right to be upset. We, and I speak as a champion of the pub trade, want the chancellor to change his mind.He said: "I think the industry's right to be upset. We, and I speak as a champion of the pub trade, want the chancellor to change his mind.
He later backtracked - after the Tories accused the government of being in "disarray" - saying "my comments do not accurately reflect my views".He later backtracked - after the Tories accused the government of being in "disarray" - saying "my comments do not accurately reflect my views".
Jacqui Smith denied the government was having difficulty maintaining discipline in its ranks. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith denied the government was having difficulty maintaining discipline in its ranks.
She told BBC News 24: "What we are all clear about is that our job is to deliver for the British people and that is what we are getting on with doing."She told BBC News 24: "What we are all clear about is that our job is to deliver for the British people and that is what we are getting on with doing."