Abolition of 10p tax band

[andrewb]

Greg Pope tabled a motion for action over Gordon Browns abolition of the 10p tax band.

The abolition was in last years budget where Brown attempted to grab headlines by cutting the basic rate by 2p, when he had in fact overall increased taxes. What the removal does is force people who earn above the 'no tax on income' threshold, to pay 20% of their income as tax, rather than 10%. This results in lower earners having to pay more tax.

Good on Mr Pope for tabling the motion, with 30 MP signatures, which has now been withdrawn as Mr Brown said he will look at the impact of the changes. I really hope he keeps his word. Although personally I think he should have kept the motion until action was taken.

More information: BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown fights backbench tax revolt

[MargaretR]

I noticed this at the time....sneaky tax grabbing
Many are in for a shock
I am over 65 so my tax allowance has been adjusted to compensate for it
-under 65s havent got that.

[West Ender]

I wouldn't have minded the loss of the lower rate if the personal allowance had been increased. There are too many people on low earnings who are paying tax.

For 2008-09 the personal allowance for anyone under 65 is £5435 so if you are employed and earning £10000 a year you're going to pay tax at 20% on £4565. Of course you may be able to claim Tax Credits but, if you think about it, isn't that farcical, taking it off you while giving it back?

A personal allowance of at least £10000 would cut out the need for Working Tax Credit and make take-home pay more realistic and less open to errors.

(I don't know why I'm still bothered. I retired from it all last September. )

[shillelagh]

Here is the press release that went from Greg's office to the accrington observer:

Greg’s Commons motion urges Government u-turn on abolition of the 10p tax band – changes are hurting Hyndburn says MP

Hyndburn’s MP has tabled a Commons motion urging the Government to think again on the abolition of the 10p tax rate which comes into effect this week. Greg said:

“I have been corresponding with Ministers about this for quite a while, I’ve tabled Parliamentary Questions, I’ve written letters and I’ve seen the Minister but to no avail. The Government thought when they announced the abolition of the 10p tax rate last year that no-one would be made worse off as they thought everyone would be entitled to either Pension Credits or Working Tax Credits, but they were wrong.

“It’s clear to me that quite a lot of people with modest incomes in East Lancashire and across the UK will find themselves worse off this week because someone in the Treasury got their sums wrong. I’ve been trying to tell ministers this for ages but no-one seems to be listening so I’ve now tabled a Commons motion backed by other normally loyal Labour MPs frustrated by the Government’s inaction. This was raised at a private meeting of Labour MPs with the Prime Minister earlier in the week and I hope that this motion will now focus ministers’ minds on the problem.”

The motion reads:

Abolition of the 10p Tax Rate

That this House notes that, despite assurances to the contrary, many people are being made worse off by the abolition of the 10p tax rate; notes with concern this is having a disproportionate impact on people who can ill afford to be made worse off; accepts that this was not the intention of Her Majesty’s Government but is dismayed at the response to the plight of those adversely affected; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring forward measures to correct this damaging change to the taxation system

[jaysay]

Greg Pope was mentioned on Brekfast News 24 this morning, the reporter said that Greg had put through a PMB about these new taxes and had withdrawn because he got assurances from the Government that the would take another look at it. When the BBC contacted the Government on this issue they were told that there would be no alterations to the tax system which comes into force tomorrow. The BBC said they had tried to contact Greg but he had GONE TO GROUND (thats new name for Blackburn). So it looks like this Government not only con the British people but also their own back bench MPs.

[g jones]

Gordon Brown made up a mess of this. Not accepting that fact is poor form.

[Royboy39]

Originally Posted by g jones

Gordon Brown made up a mess of this. Not accepting that fact is poor form.

You may get your hand slapped for that comment but good of you to stand your corner.

[andrewb]

BBC NEWS | Politics | 'No rethink' on tax rate - Hutton

So the government are not going to go back on their abolition, they'll force lower earners to pay double the amount of tax they paid before. What a disgrace.

Will Greg now put his motion back into action?

[g jones]

Originally Posted by Cyfr

BBC NEWS | Politics | 'No rethink' on tax rate - Hutton

So the government are not going to go back on their abolition, they'll force lower earners to pay double the amount of
tax they paid before. What a disgrace.

Will Greg now put his motion back into action?

I am sorry you feel the need to attack the government all the time. Conservatives have always promoted flat rate taxes that penalise people on low incomes. VAT. Poll Tax to name 2.

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by g jones

I am sorry you feel the need to attack the government all the time. Conservatives have always promoted flat rate taxes that penalise people on low incomes. VAT. Poll Tax to name 2.

I think you will find this thread is in support of our labour mp. The tories also got rid of the poll tax. I feel sorry that you live 18 years in the past. The rest of us will continue to debate the present and future.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by g jones

I am sorry you feel the need to attack the government all the time. Conservatives have always promoted flat rate taxes that penalise people on low incomes. VAT. Poll Tax to name 2.

How two faced can this man get, the local Labour Party spent local election after local election attacking the Tory Government, now all they want is to distance themselves from Brown an Co, well Graham your in it up to your neck old son, your finger prints are all over it, you campaigned for this goverment, you got this government, now take the consequences for your own actions

[g jones]

Originally Posted by Cyfr

I think you will find this thread is in support of our labour mp. The tories also got rid of the poll tax. I feel sorry that you live 18 years in the past. The rest of us will continue to debate the present and future.

You were not supporting him, you were using it to attack the Government. Why did you start the thread. You're a loony like the ones we had in the 80's. Playground politics that belong in the past.

[g jones]

Originally Posted by jaysay

How two faced can this man get, the local Labour Party spent local election after local election attacking the Tory Government, now all they want is to distance themselves from Brown an Co, well Graham your in it up to your neck old son, your finger prints are all over it, you campaigned for this goverment, you got this government, now take the consequences for your own actions

I gave an honest answer, quite the opposite of two-faced. No-one gets the government they want, just one they prefer more than the other.

Why don't you realise your just embarrassing yourself with your crass comments.

[andrewb]

Originally Posted by g jones

You were not supporting him, you were using it to attack the Government. Why did you start the thread. You're a loony like the ones we had in the 80's. Playground politics that belong in the past.

Why do you not understand that I can agree or disagree on something because of my personal beliefs and not just because of the party I am a member of? I started the thread to inform people that their MP was trying to save lower income workers from 100% tax increases. I post when I disagree with what Greg Pope has done, so it's only fair that when hes done something I agree with I should post that too.

It's got to the stage where you can no longer even come up with arguments, instead you just resort to trying to defame my character even when I'm posting positive things about our MP.

Have you actually contributed anything to this thread?

[blazey]

Originally Posted by g jones

You were not supporting him, you were using it to attack the Government. Why did you start the thread. You're a loony like the ones we had in the 80's. Playground politics that belong in the past.

This thread was very serious until the most childish politician on the forum had to resort to calling people loonies and bringing up the past as a way of distracting people from the present disaster of what is known as Labour.