A rebellion stirs
Peter Hoskin 9:02am
So, what does today hold in store for Gordon Brown? Howabout another 10p tax rebellion marshalled, as always, by Frank Field? A bunch of around 30 Labour rebels have prepared an amendment to the Finance Bill, by which the last Budget couldn't pass into law until everyone who lost out from the 10p tax fiasco has been fully compensated. It should be debated today, and the rebels have the support of both the Tories and the Lib Dems. In response, Labour whips have cancelled all foreign trips by ministers and MPs, and are feverishly trying to rally the troops.
If the rebellion succeeds, then it will be hugely embarrassing for Brown - his beleagured premiership could well do without another Commons defeat. But, even if the Government comes out on top today, this is still damaging enough for the Dear Leader. At at time when he's trying to create a new "nice Labour cuts vs nasty Tory cuts" dividing line on public spending, voters are being reminded of perhaps his most obscene, self-serving and regressive act of fiscal sabotage. Ahead of the summer recess, it could also be the reminder that some Labour MPs need to kickstart a fresh round of plotting.
Previous
Dan
July 7th, 2009 9:47am Report this commentGood to see. Let's hope this is another nail in the coffin.
J. Wright
July 7th, 2009 9:57am Report this commentIt is staggering how Brown, with malice aforethought made the poorest 5% of voters worse off in his last budget. When he did it, the sheep from his own party all jumped up and cheered hysterically for five minutes in the House of Commons. Why is this video not played repeatedly on TV to show
1. how stupid Labour MPs are
2. what a malignant bastard Brown is.
If the Labour Party does not stand for relieving the real poor it has no reason to exist. For this alone Brown should rot in hell for eternity.
john miller
July 7th, 2009 10:03am Report this commentThe 10p tax fiasco also illustrates how tribal the Labour vote is.
Bear in mind the marginal income tax rates created by the abolition of the 10% band. Then imagine the Conservatives coming up with a 50% investment income surcharge.
I suppose by nature socialists are sheep and conservatives are wolves, but the degree to which the lower earners rolled over and thought of Keir Hardie was astonishing.
It must be daunting for Cameron to think that no matter how stupid, crass, inept, oppressive, illiberal and offensive the Labour Party are, never less that 1 in 5 of those certain to vote will put a tick in the socialist box.
Jeremy
July 7th, 2009 10:14am Report this comment"So, what does today hold in store for Gordon Brown?"
Oh! Can we make wishes? I wish that today will the day when the Furies - acting on behalf of the fallen, the violated and the innocent - finally catch up with Gordon Brown and Tony Blair...
TrevorsDen
July 7th, 2009 10:42am Report this commentI think you could find a more user friendly term for a group of labour rebels than a 'bunch'.
However I do not think anyone could quibble with your phrase "obscene, self-serving and regressive " in describing Browns 10p policy.
Lee Jakeman
July 7th, 2009 11:05am Report this commentThat Frank Field geezer is a troublemaker, isn't he? And he's not even a Tory ...
Kalvis Jansons
July 7th, 2009 11:10am Report this commentWe can all add to the fire:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/
Let him know what we think of him.
Ian Walker
July 7th, 2009 11:22am Report this commentThe correct collective noun for Labour rebels is "invertebrate".
E.g. "An invertebrate of around 30 Labour rebels have prepared an amendment to the Finance Bill..."
Hawkeye
July 7th, 2009 11:24am Report this commentSo far every "rebellion" has fizzled out. Labour MPs have no spine.
If they vote down the budget then it is game over for Labour, so a lash-up compromise will be made, the rebels will melt away and it will go through.
I would be utterly delighted to be proved wrong on this and for the budget bill to fail and take Gordon and his filthy govt with it.
Susan Hill
July 7th, 2009 11:40am Report this commentWhat Hawkeye said.
cuffleyburgers
July 7th, 2009 11:54am Report this commentNo Brown must stay he has not yet suffered enough.
If there were some way to remove him to some sort of Portmeirion -like place where he could allowed to play at being PM in perpetuity (and thereby continue to suffer) and we could get on with trying to repair the damage...
of course this would only work if his entire cabinet went with him plus half the civil service...
Could be a damn good solution
Victor NW Kent
July 7th, 2009 12:03pm Report this commentLeft behind by Brown's ridiculous tax change were the host of low earning single people, many of whom are as much as £240 a year worse off even after all of the wriggling that Darling had to do.
However, the other contributors are right. Most Labour backbenchers have no consciences nor concept of duty to their constituents. This means that Frank Field will fail again, a fate that is due to him for his spineless and illogical capitulation last time round. He had "government assurances" - fifty of those and a quid will buy you a Big Mac.
The Cat in the Hat
July 7th, 2009 12:40pm Report this commentThe 10p fiasco in verse.
There once was a PM called Brown,
Who said he’d brought income tax down.
It’s the poor that he clobbered,
And he didn’t seem bothered
That he’d let all these good people drown.
His hunger for power was so great
He refused to bring matters to debate.
He lied through his teeth
And he brought so much grief
And now he’s incited such hate
Christopher Rowsby
July 7th, 2009 3:39pm Report this commentA Berlin cabaret song from the 20's.
''The left betrays,
The right dismays,
The country's broke,
And guess who pays.''
George Laird
July 7th, 2009 4:32pm Report this commentDear All
Frank Field lead the charge and do him!
Do him now!
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Hawkeye
July 7th, 2009 7:55pm Report this commentWell - the "rebellion" is over and it ended as predicted. How do they keep a straight face when they describe themselves as the champions of the poor.
Still, on the bright side, the tories will be able to hammer them with the "tax the poor" label.
Back to top