Jo Swinson

MP for East Dunbartonshire

Jo Swinson

Government leaving East Dunbartonshire residents in the dark over tax U-turn

4.13.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2008

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown was threatened with a major backbench revolt over his plans, which increased the burden on the least well-off

Jo Swinson has expressed concern that vulnerable East Dunbartonshire residents are being left in the dark following Gordon Brown's 10p tax rate U-turn.

From 6th April, Labour doubled the starting rate of income tax from 10p to 20p in the pound. Previously, a 10p rate was paid on the first £2230 of taxable income. Under pressure of a threatened rebellion by Labour backbenchers, Gordon Brown has been forced into offering concessions to those set to lose out, but there is confusion about who will be eligible for this additional help.

Commenting, Jo said:

"This series of events has seen Gordon Brown's tax plans fall into disarray.

"Already, thousands of East Dunbartonshire residents are set to be up to £232 a year worse off because of the abolition of the 10p tax rate. Now, we are told of cobbled-together plans for a package of extra help for the least well-off, as a kneejerk response to a backbench rebellion.

"However, there is a worrying lack of clarity over who this additional support will go to. Will it be backdated? Will it go to people receiving tax credits? How will vulnerable pensioners be affected? East Dunbartonshire residents deserve to know exactly how Gordon Brown's tax plans will affect the money in their pockets.

"Labour's shambolic approach is not one of a party claiming to be serious about tackling poverty."

Under the tax changes announced earlier this month:

• A single person with no children earning less than £18,500 will be a net loser, by up to £232 a year.

• People taking early retirement with a taxable income of less than £8,000 will lose, by up to £232 a year.

Liberal Democrat plans to cut the tax burden for those on low income include scrapping council tax and replacing it with a local tax based on ability to pay, and cutting the standard rate of national income tax by 4p in the pound, paid for by closing tax loopholes used by the wealthy and by increasing green taxes, such as the duties paid by the most polluting vehicles and those who travel in the most polluting aircraft.

Related Link:

Print this news story
Previous news story: Job vacancy - Personal Assistant to Jo Swinson MP (Thu 24th Apr 2008).
Next news story: Atholl pupils getting into the Fairtrade habit (Fri 25th Apr 2008).

Related News Story:

Fri 9th May 2008:

Wed 23rd Apr 2008:

Tue 22nd Apr 2008:

Fri 11th Apr 2008:

Thu 28th Feb 2008:

Sun 30th Dec 2007:

Thu 22nd Nov 2007:

Fri 16th Nov 2007:

Tue 23rd Oct 2007:

Thu 11th Oct 2007:

Wed 12th Sep 2007:

Mon 2nd Jul 2007:

Wed 16th May 2007:

Sun 22nd Apr 2007:

Wed 18th Apr 2007:

Mon 26th Mar 2007:

Mon 19th Feb 2007:

Tue 30th Jan 2007:

Mon 8th Jan 2007:

Wed 29th Nov 2006:

Wed 1st Nov 2006:

Thu 28th Sep 2006:

Tue 22nd Aug 2006:

Wed 9th Aug 2006:

Thu 1st Jun 2006:

Wed 17th May 2006:

Tue 16th May 2006:

Thu 27th Apr 2006:

Tue 7th Feb 2006:

Mon 3rd Oct 2005:

Sat 7th May 2005:

Thu 5th May 2005:

Mon 2nd May 2005:

Fri 29th Apr 2005:

Tue 26th Apr 2005:

Mon 25th Apr 2005:

Sun 24th Apr 2005:

Sat 16th Apr 2005:

Tue 12th Apr 2005:

Mon 11th Apr 2005:

Fri 8th Apr 2005:

Tue 29th Mar 2005:

Fri 25th Mar 2005:

Fri 18th Mar 2005:

Thu 17th Mar 2005:

Sun 13th Mar 2005:

Tue 8th Mar 2005:

Thu 3rd Mar 2005:

Mon 28th Feb 2005:

Wed 16th Feb 2005:

Fri 28th Jan 2005:

Tue 28th Sep 2004:

Thu 9th Sep 2004:

Sun 5th Sep 2004:

Mon 19th Jul 2004:

Wed 14th Jul 2004:

Tue 22nd Jun 2004:

Wed 21st Jan 2004:

Mon 5th May 2003:

Printed and hosted by Prater Raines Ltd, 82b Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BX.
Published and promoted by the office of Jo Swinson MP, 4 Springfield House, Emerson Road, Bishopbriggs, G64 1QE
The views expressed are those of the party, not of the service provider.