Gordon Brown flies back today from his visit to the United States (only ever so slightly overshadowed by the simultaneous presence of the Holy Father) to more trouble up t’mill in Westminster.
The Labour back benches are not happy about the scrapping of the 10p tax band. Nor, for that matter, are the Tories. So Gordon faces the significant threat of an embarrassing amendment to the Finance Bill being voted through when it is debated in the Commons the week after next.
According to the Telegraph, the Treasury is working on its own amendment to the Bill, to head off the prospect of a major Labour rebellion. However, the BBC reports a Treasury official as saying that there is no thought of “an imminent change to the policy”. More Brownian dithering, it would appear.
Most ominously, a number of parliamentary private secretaries have made their disgruntlement known. Earlier this week, Angela Smith, PPS to Yvette Cooper, was reported to be on the brink of resignation over the disappearance of the 10p band, and to have e-mailed friends informing them of her intentions. Later, after a transatlantic telephone conversation with Gordon, she changed her mind and issued a statement saying:
"I am reassured that my concerns are understood and that the Government remains committed to its anti-poverty agenda. Resignation of my post is therefore not envisaged."
“Not envisaged”, but apparently not ruled out, either.
Now we hear that three more ministerial aides are unhappy. Jeff Ennis, David Anderson and Celia Barlow have all told the Evening Standard of their concerns. Anderson told the Standard:
“I get bloody well paid whereas some people who are earning a third or a quarter of what I'm earning are going to be worse off. People are saying 'I can't believe that the Labour party has done this'.”
He’s right; that’s exactly what people are saying.
Two further PPSs, Stephen Pound and David Kidney, have also made it known that they are concerned about the policy.
Parliamentary private secretaries are generally regarded as the lowest level of the Government food chain, as, indeed, they are. Moreover, none of the discontented six is a household name. However, the importance of the “bag carriers” should not be understated.
Gordon has better reason than almost anyone to recall that it was a wave of resignations by Brownite parliamentary private secretaries in September, 2006 that proved the catalyst for Tony Blair’s announcement of his timetable for retirement as Prime Minister. Blair read the runes and knew that, if he didn’t submit, the wave of rebellion would soon progress up the ministerial ladder. The PPSs, as unpaid aides, had least to lose by being the first to resign, but potentially much to gain.
Gordon will therefore have more than jet lag to cope with over the weekend. Does he do a U-turn over the 10p band and look weak, or does he try to tough it out and risk more open rebellion and a deeply wounding defeat?
Or does he just dither a bit longer?
The Labour back benches are not happy about the scrapping of the 10p tax band. Nor, for that matter, are the Tories. So Gordon faces the significant threat of an embarrassing amendment to the Finance Bill being voted through when it is debated in the Commons the week after next.
According to the Telegraph, the Treasury is working on its own amendment to the Bill, to head off the prospect of a major Labour rebellion. However, the BBC reports a Treasury official as saying that there is no thought of “an imminent change to the policy”. More Brownian dithering, it would appear.
Most ominously, a number of parliamentary private secretaries have made their disgruntlement known. Earlier this week, Angela Smith, PPS to Yvette Cooper, was reported to be on the brink of resignation over the disappearance of the 10p band, and to have e-mailed friends informing them of her intentions. Later, after a transatlantic telephone conversation with Gordon, she changed her mind and issued a statement saying:
"I am reassured that my concerns are understood and that the Government remains committed to its anti-poverty agenda. Resignation of my post is therefore not envisaged."
“Not envisaged”, but apparently not ruled out, either.
Now we hear that three more ministerial aides are unhappy. Jeff Ennis, David Anderson and Celia Barlow have all told the Evening Standard of their concerns. Anderson told the Standard:
“I get bloody well paid whereas some people who are earning a third or a quarter of what I'm earning are going to be worse off. People are saying 'I can't believe that the Labour party has done this'.”
He’s right; that’s exactly what people are saying.
Two further PPSs, Stephen Pound and David Kidney, have also made it known that they are concerned about the policy.
Parliamentary private secretaries are generally regarded as the lowest level of the Government food chain, as, indeed, they are. Moreover, none of the discontented six is a household name. However, the importance of the “bag carriers” should not be understated.
Gordon has better reason than almost anyone to recall that it was a wave of resignations by Brownite parliamentary private secretaries in September, 2006 that proved the catalyst for Tony Blair’s announcement of his timetable for retirement as Prime Minister. Blair read the runes and knew that, if he didn’t submit, the wave of rebellion would soon progress up the ministerial ladder. The PPSs, as unpaid aides, had least to lose by being the first to resign, but potentially much to gain.
Gordon will therefore have more than jet lag to cope with over the weekend. Does he do a U-turn over the 10p band and look weak, or does he try to tough it out and risk more open rebellion and a deeply wounding defeat?
Or does he just dither a bit longer?
3 comments:
You on about the 10p carrier bag tax?
I think it's an ok idea.
It has worked in Ireland!
The question is David, why has it taken these Labour MPs a whole year to notice the effect of the budget they cheered through the Commons at the time?
Angela Smith in particular has no excuse - she's a Treasury Minister and it took her a whole year to complain about the consequences of her own legislation...
Re carrier bag tax in ireland it hasnt worked as thin plastic nags have been replaced by wastly increased purchases of heavier duty plastic bags because surprise surprise plastic bags are used in homes across the country for lots of different tasks. Not only has the use of heavier duty plastic bags gone up but after an initial dip shop bags usage has returned to its previous level.
An unmitigated disaster which is costing everyone a lot of money to no sensiblepurpose.
Post a Comment