The only thing that can 'save' Labour is that the Tories and LibDems are just different brand names of the same policies, privatising profits and socialising debts. All three will pursue the policy of currency devaluation and hyperinflation, making everyone poorer, except the tax-exempt super-rich.

Paul, Coventry,

National Insurance is Income Tax. As Bevin said : "Look, there aint no fund". Any honest reform will be aimed at its progressive abolition. The present basic tax rate is 29% not 20%.

Eric Skelton, Cardiff, Wales

So a less well paid person who is single would lose about £2-300 a year. If they wish to eat or own a car, even an old one, their bills have risen by maybe 30% in the last few months with yet more to come. They will suffer more than any others no matter what happens.
Well done.........we have been.

Stuart Stanton, Wirral,

To Malcolm McLean of Bradford, yes you can, provided you don't bail out banks in politically sensitive constituencies to the tune of several tens of billions of taxpayers pounds.

Richard Tarr, Swansea, UK

Some sensible ideas Steven Byers. Does it mean that the Labour party only works best if we DON'T vote for them?

John Begoode, Welwyn Garden City,

Tax reform is urgently needed: simpler, much less burdensome. But discredited former ministers are no better placed to advise on this than the present incompetent, bossy cabinet. It will have to wait for a new government, with new ideas.

Ben Elford, Bristol, UK

You can't have a good NHS, generous social benefits, and a war at the same time as keeping taxation down. Labour can win if they point this out to the public. What will Cameron cut?

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

What about fiscal drag, the failure to raise personal allowances in line with inflation, and the rises in NI contributions - a tax by another name.

He has succeeded in fooling most of the people for far too long, and finally, at last, the scales are dropping off the taxpayers eyes.

Glenn, wales,

Please do not waste time suggesting logocal, simple, ways to help the less fortunate out of the poverty trap. Gordon Brown just does not want to know. He drevised a tax and benefitt system of byzantine complexity that keeps a lot of potential NuLab voters in employment. Brown is Boss.

W D Toulman, WALKINGTON, UK

Leave us alone that what needs to be done.
This country is a nanny state constant meddling in everything, its stifling.
I fear a mistake on the road these days especially in London due to the volume of coloured lanes and signs telling me what i cant do, its barely possible to watch the road,.

Paul Anthony, reading, uk

A lot of common sense here, but GB always knows better and is incapable of listening - especially to Blairites. It is inconceivable that GB did not realise how doubling the 10p rate would affect 5.3m childless workers. He deliberately sacrificed them for his own short-term political advantage.

Melchet, Edinburgh, Scotland

The key to fairness in taxation is to ensure, first of all, fair and sensible government expenditure. This government rewards fecklessness and punishes those people who make best efforts to care for themselves. A complete revision in spending mode is required.

Jonathan Spencer, London, UK

More like Everest to climb !!!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

I'd bet a years wages GB will not listen to Stephen Byers or anyone else, he has proved he is an arrogant, condescending and sanctimonious tyrant. Leopards do not change their spots. RIP Labour.

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, Devon UK

Captain of Titanic to crew: I've found the secret of avoiding ice bergs, follow me.

Tom MacFarlane, Thornton, UK

Here's an idea for GB. In 1997 we voted for a Labour Government.We didn't get one, we got Thatcherism without even so much as a token attempt on Blair's part at disguise. How about GB giving us now, finally, after over a decade, a genuine Labour Government.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Why do politicians learn corporate as their second language?

Sue, Felpham,

Old Labour ( Gordon B ) supports in the main - people in receipt of benefts. Thus the oft repeated mantra "We have taken x million of the POOREST PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY..." is actually saying we have increased benefits.

NOT ON BENEFITS?? WEll .. you stay poor

TRish Niblock, Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Some time mountains are not hard to claim, if you have luck of
the devil, i wonder if Gordon Brown have that luck????????

Cllr Ken Tiwari (Independent), Oxford , United Kingdom

Convictions for this government I suspect will have to wait until after the next general election when I suspect many of its members will acquire some.

Edward Green, Upminster,

Labour needs to change the taxing of essentials eg petrol, council tax etc. These taxes hit the working poor hard and are drive down their overall standard of living which in turn affects their childrens' life chances. Running a family car is essential but it's being taxed as a luxury.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

The marginal rates of tax are often MUCH worse than 60%. If my income goes up £1,000 I will pay 20% on that, plus I will lose some childrens tax credits, plus my daughter loses £400 from her EMA, plus another daughter will lose some of her university grant.

Will, London, UK

The tax credit system (or lack of a system) needs to be scrapped altogether and replaced with a proper system that is not rife with fraudulent claims, totally relient on the honesty of claimants and heavily weighted in favour of single adult households with kids thus massive amounts of dishonesty.

N.Jones, Edinburgh, Lothian

I think Stephen Byers is misreading the situation when he says that the electorate has come to perceive Labour as having become distant and uncaring; it might be more accurate to say that it has come to perceive Labour as having become dictatorial, incompetent, and hostile to all levels of society.

Peter, Cambridge,

It's the 'Courage and conviction' bit that frightens me. NuLab has no qualms about oppressing the honest citizen with ever more restrictions. Like Gulliver's Lilliputian threads.
And seem hell-bent on continuing the formula.
Set my people free!

Tony Collins, Redruth, United Kingdom

This will never happen while Gordon Brown is PM.

NBeale, London, England

That would be a good start. What are the chances that GB will follow your advice?

Arlene, Westerham, UK