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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Say sorry on pensions, Brown told | Say sorry on pensions, Brown told |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown has been urged to "say sorry" for his 1997 decision to scrap tax relief on pensions, during a stormy debate in the Commons. | Chancellor Gordon Brown has been urged to "say sorry" for his 1997 decision to scrap tax relief on pensions, during a stormy debate in the Commons. |
| Shadow chancellor George Osborne has tabled a no-confidence vote in Mr Brown over the issue. | Shadow chancellor George Osborne has tabled a no-confidence vote in Mr Brown over the issue. |
| Mr Osborne told MPs Mr Brown had "acted with stealth", hitting 125,000 people's pensions, and urged him to apologise. | Mr Osborne told MPs Mr Brown had "acted with stealth", hitting 125,000 people's pensions, and urged him to apologise. |
| Amid loud shouting, the chancellor refused to do so and said he had taken the correct "long-term decisions". | Amid loud shouting, the chancellor refused to do so and said he had taken the correct "long-term decisions". |
| It is highly unusual for opposition parties to call for motions of no confidence on individual ministers. | It is highly unusual for opposition parties to call for motions of no confidence on individual ministers. |
| 'Destruction' | 'Destruction' |
| Even if, as expected, they lose the vote, the Tories will hope the debate embarrasses Mr Brown, the firm favourite to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister. | Even if, as expected, they lose the vote, the Tories will hope the debate embarrasses Mr Brown, the firm favourite to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister. |
| A recent release of Treasury documents under the Freedom of Information Act led to claims that the chancellor had ignored the advice of officials when he abolished tax relief on pensions. The Treasury denies the claim. | A recent release of Treasury documents under the Freedom of Information Act led to claims that the chancellor had ignored the advice of officials when he abolished tax relief on pensions. The Treasury denies the claim. |
| The Conservative motion reads: "This House has no confidence in this chancellor's handling of pension benefits." | The Conservative motion reads: "This House has no confidence in this chancellor's handling of pension benefits." |
| In a lively Commons, Mr Osborne said: "This chancellor has from the start acted with stealth, blocked all attempts to get at the truth and now blames everyone but himself for the destruction he has brought to Britain's pensions. | In a lively Commons, Mr Osborne said: "This chancellor has from the start acted with stealth, blocked all attempts to get at the truth and now blames everyone but himself for the destruction he has brought to Britain's pensions. |
| "In short, the abolition of dividend tax credits was in the words of the prime minister's own economic adviser at the time, a mad thing to do, quite crackers." | "In short, the abolition of dividend tax credits was in the words of the prime minister's own economic adviser at the time, a mad thing to do, quite crackers." |
| He added that Mr Brown had never shown "any expression of sympathy" for those whose funds had been "raided". | He added that Mr Brown had never shown "any expression of sympathy" for those whose funds had been "raided". |
| The government help given so far had been "inadequate" for the "big hole" it had created, Mr Osborne said. | The government help given so far had been "inadequate" for the "big hole" it had created, Mr Osborne said. |
| Competitiveness | Competitiveness |
| Mr Brown accused Mr Osborne of "short-termism" and "opportunism". | Mr Brown accused Mr Osborne of "short-termism" and "opportunism". |
| He added: "We take the long-term decisions for the economy. He has a short-term approach." | He added: "We take the long-term decisions for the economy. He has a short-term approach." |
| Mr Brown also said the Labour government had introduced safeguards for holders of occupational pensions whose companies go bust. | |
| This showed that "not sympathy but action" was necessary. | |
| Economic Secretary to the Treasury Ed Balls, who was the chancellor's closest adviser in 1997, has defended the decision to abolish the relief for pension funds as part of the package of business tax reforms designed to improve competitiveness. | Economic Secretary to the Treasury Ed Balls, who was the chancellor's closest adviser in 1997, has defended the decision to abolish the relief for pension funds as part of the package of business tax reforms designed to improve competitiveness. |
| The Conservatives earlier said they would be tabling an amendment to the government's Pensions Bill when it returns to the Commons on Wednesday to help those who have lost occupational pensions since 1997. | The Conservatives earlier said they would be tabling an amendment to the government's Pensions Bill when it returns to the Commons on Wednesday to help those who have lost occupational pensions since 1997. |
| Mr Brown has previously said his pensions decisions had raised £5bn a year from pension funds and had been a key reason the UK economy had been strong for the past decade. | Mr Brown has previously said his pensions decisions had raised £5bn a year from pension funds and had been a key reason the UK economy had been strong for the past decade. |
| It is the first time Mr Osborne and Mr Brown have gone head-to-head in the Commons on the subject of pensions since the row over advice given to the chancellor erupted earlier this month. | It is the first time Mr Osborne and Mr Brown have gone head-to-head in the Commons on the subject of pensions since the row over advice given to the chancellor erupted earlier this month. |