my pension is £452pm the tax this month £100, last month £28, Gordon brown MUST GO, he is killing this country, I am disabled and not able to work

John, tonbridge, uk

I'm 23 unmarried male, I earn £17500 PA and live in the NW. I don't consider myself poor and I certainly don't expect or need a handout. It is simply a joke that "poor" people have had a tax increase whilst better paid workers receive a decrease. I'm all for tax reduction, just not at my expense!

Ashley McDonald, Bolton,

I'm a single man with no kids & a low salary. The current state of the economy means I can't afford a house, all my bills have shot up in the last year & the company I work for has been hit hard, so I haven't had a pay rise for 2 years. I cannot afford to live in Brown's Britain anymore.

James Goad, Birmingham,

As most of the 195 comments demonstrate, Gordon Brown is paraphrasing Denis Healey; "Squeeze the people 'til the pipsqueaks squeak".

Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This country has only itself to blame - we put these clowns into power - the only response we can take is to actually vote them out of that power and as quickly as possible - starting May 1st. and continuing on next year - we are given a vote we must use it.

Chris, Huddersfield, UK

I do not oppose the abolition of the 10p tax rate per se; I'd like to see a move towards flat taxation. What does make me angry is the fact that our money is thrown about by this government so haphazardly. If the government was more efficient in its spending we could all take a tax cut.

Tom Phillips, Liverpool, UK

You say you look after pensioners and people with children. I am now paying about £10 every 4 weeks extra out of my pension on additional tax. It could be more but have not received full four weeks pensions yet, so I am penalised and also my husband who is working full time is penalised

Maureen Hodrien, Wallasey, UK

Bernhard of London obviously doesn't understand the British electoral system, because only 27 per cent of the electorate voted for the Labour Party. The great majority, 73 per cent, rejected them. Democracy??

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Average wage is paid to pensioners in France ,Our average is £25,000....what has happened to our third world country?We are paying people living abroad from other countries benefits,and of course forget our pensioners again of course...Lets have a pensioners stop London day,Perhaps all of October .

rosie, london/, england

I'm not sure why people are whinging. You voted them in, and the MPs have to pay for their £23,000 pay rise somehow.....

Bernhard, London, UK

The traditional face of Labour is that of high taxation and here it is, so what's the surprise? People who vote Labour should be happy since tax has been going up an up and up for everyone in the country, it's just that now its time for the poor to pay more tax too. All's fair in love and war and under Labour.

Hall, Sheffield, UK

I wrote to my MP on this issue last year. As a single working male on less than £18,000 it wasn't difficult to work out I would be worse off.

Great, those paid the lowest get hit the hardest.

And yet, our MPs only react, this was raised by many at the time but no MP thought to act at the time which would have stopped this problem before it happened, not after it already had.

Thanks Labour, I assure you you wont receive my vote again... Ever.

Ashley McDonald, Bolton,

I received a pay rise in December 2007 which I had waited months for this gave me a take home pay of £620 the 10p tax rate being dropped wiped my year wage rise out and I went back to £609 per month every household bill has gone up but my wage has gone down. I wont ever vote labour again.

Gill, Doncaster, UK

I think this will push even more of our citizens to the edge. I graduate in the summer and am seriously considering emigrating and I am sure I’m not alone. I feel like the government don’t see us as humans but as robots to bring in taxes.

I don't want spend my life paying taxes and see nothing in return.

Shazad Mushtaq, Manchester,

I hear the thud of great wodges of my money being thrown at Labout MPs to keep them pacified. The idea seems to be to take more money away from people and then give some of it back, maybe, perhaps, on a good day, with the wind behind, if you can understand the rules......

Frank Upton, Solihull,

UK Government revenues must rise to pay for past increases in spending on the health service and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every change in taxation will disadvantage some more than others. If you don't like it - tell your MP in the strongest terms imaginable.

Tim Millea, Huddersfield,

Carol, complaining about low pay (above). Looking at the sums you are averaging 35 hours/week at around minimum wage. You need to do one of two things: either study hard and get a qualification that helps you earn a lot more, or work more hours per week. To get to £14k you would need to work 48 hours per week, assuming none is at overtime rate. That's not an unusual working week for many people. Also, if working in the public sector is so attractive, there are umpteen pages in the Guardian each week of such jobs. Many have starting salaries well above £20k with inbuilt progression. It can be done but you might have to move to where the work is.

On a more general point, I suspect the Labour grandees think that around £200 lost per year in added tax is neither here nor there for the low paid. If so, that's an interesting perspective on the thought processes of those in that Party.

Colin, shrewsbury,

so Darling is living in a Peter Pan type world where everything will be put right by the fairies. Lets have some guts to admit that the then Chancellor made a mistake and rewrite the budget. If you rewrite the reasons for going to war so that it agree with your allies it cannot be that difficult to rewrite the budget for the benefit of your people or should I say electorate.

Nick, Cardiff, Wales

Labour are in a hole and they haven't learned to stop digging. They are in power and for a fraction of the cost of Nationalizing our Banks they could resolve the situation. They don't seem to have a clue and are totally incapable of any lateral thinking. We shall all suffer for their incompetance in the end me thinks.

john, milton keynes,

Labour say they are helping the young and are working towards a better future? The abolition of the 10p tax rate will affect those under 25, earning less than £19k, childless & unmarried. I tick all of those boxes & will be up to £250 worse off a year from my trainee salary. Vote Labour? Not likely!

Lauren, Long Eaton, Nottingham, UK

if he gives extra allowance on the winter fuel in my case my husband is already receiving the winter fuel allowance of 200 so we do not get another one when I reach 60 this year; so how will I benefit like that. I want an additional tax allowance I am having to carry on working after 60!

kathy cooke, thornton cleveleys, lancashire

Once again infertile people are'''punished'' for their condition
some find coping with a full time job very difficult given the trauma of unsuccessful/ongoing fertility treatment. These people are usually in the low paid sector; negative reinforcement from a dismissive government. Lost my vote!

white, Sandown,

Constantly creating confusion from order, small wonder that Gordon Brown's sobriquet is Mr. Bean.

The WHOLE government should resign from office and we should hold a General Election as soon as possible.

R.M., London, England

This government is a bad joke on the poor. Attacks on those on disability allowance, closure of post offices, outrageous Council Tax increases, no social housing, poor education, poor health service. Brown should do the Labour Government a big favour step down now, that is the only hope for them I feel. This Government is past it's sell by date and is starting to stink!

david hambly, St Albans/ Hull, Uk

Is this really about Labour MPs who for so long have said nothing about this unjust tax increase suddenly finding their conscience. Could the fact that the local elections are only a couple of weeks away and many labour councillors are about to be sacked might have something to do with it.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

I could sit here smugly and say the removal of the 10p tax rate doesn't affect me. But of course it does, and it affects all of us. Both my daughers will lose about £280 each. For one of them that amounts to one month's rent, and to the other two month's food. They are nurses starting out on their careers, and as single people not entitled to any benefits - and are indeed proud to stand on their own two feet. The big gainers are of course the single non working parents. Great message Gordon - you value the benefit claiming baby factory individual over hard working young people, trying to be self reliant and make their way in life.

The implication from Angela Eagle was that some people would be able to claim back in benefits. Again a very poor message. Labour should be ensuring that the hard working low paid keep as much as possible of their wages, not falling into benefit dependency.

S Kirby, Barnsley, UK

Another fine mess Gordons got into! he thought he was being clever with his usual headline giveaway, closely followed by numerous stealth taxes. The tax take overall has increased year on year and now he has had to hit the poor. He has almost run out of targets to fleece to pay for his client state and gold plated pensions. Brown is a disaster now and has always been one - it was difficult to fail in a booming economy and look what is happening now. Has anyone bothered to look at the national debt Britiain now has? Thanks Gordon its the tower for you.

John, manchester,

No wonder trust in politicians and parties is at an all time low. Do these people live in the real world like us? No receipts needed for expenses under £250 (sorry now £25 - where I worked it was a no receipt/no payment policy!). Free 1st class travel for them and family. 2nd mortgage payments upto £25k. £10k free fitted kitchens. Ministers with paid cars, drivers and food allowances. Some MP said the other day 'the electorate knows how hard our job is and what benefits we get'. I bet you if the public really knew what MP's claimed there would be a real backlash. No wonder they are desperately trying to fight any 3rd party audit and publishing of that information!

How can they really understand what issues face the general population when they live in the Westminster 'tax and benefits haven'?

Petrol and food has gone up in the last few months. Do they really understand the issues lower paid people are feeling?

Adrian Moss, Bracknell, UK

brown appears to be irritable,dogmatic,out-of-touch and unable to bear criticism of any of his increasingly convoluted economic schemes. this son of the manse sees the british working class as a group who dont know what is good for them. as the old saying goes "when you're in a hole ............". if tales of his phone smashing/volcanic rages are even remotely true, then we have much to ponder over the next 2 years.

paul, hua hin, thailand

"...he is said to have been shaking with anger while defending the measure,"

Is this the sort of pathetic person you really want as a Prime Minister?

Mike, London, UK

Trouble is that for some reason politicians have to appear macho, and that means never admitting that they've made a booboo. If they did, they'd be accused of a u-turn. But what's wrong with conceding that a mistake was made?

Anyone of mature years will admit that sometimes they 'done it wrong'. But Brown will bluster his way through and all the 'rebels' will quietly do what they are told.

Colin Hague, Windsor,

Gordon Brown has made yet another terrible mistake. Strange how he was so smug when he made it last year. Funny none of his Labour acolytes complained at the time when he made it last year in the 2007 Budget!

How amusing to read he shoke with anger. He is pyschologically unable to cope with being challenged. It is becoming more and more obvious that Brown is well out of his depth and we need a change of government. The main problem is that with his famous "Brown the Bottler" guise, we will not see a general election until mid-2010 so we have another two years of these clowns running this government's circus!

Jonathan, Kingston,

I'm glad I moved to spain last year. I struggled as a small business in the UK for many years. My turnaround in spain is the same as the UK but I pay less tax, cost of living is more easy on the pocket, and the dreaded council tax bill...I pay 75 quid a year to get my bins emptied daily compared to 130 a month in the UK

steve, alhaurin el grande, spain

So Alistair Darling cannot rewind the budget over the 10 pence tax rate! Millions of working class people would like to rewind the nightmare of the last eleven years and start afresh with a competent Government!

R.B., Leicester,

i hope some of you realise its not just the 10p tax up to 20p darling/brown have raised the national insurance as well
bet they are happy no one has mentioned that........my daught now pays £8.00 more per week,

robber brown more like stelth brown, ( just a bit )

alf

alf, derby, derbyshire

The Chancellor's claim that it is too late to make any changes this tax year because the year has already begun underlines the fact that he simply does not understand how the tax system works. Why should he? - he has no training or background in tax matters as far as I am aware.
There is a very simple solution - HM Revenue & Customs should direct all employers to operate the PAYE tax tables issued for 2007/08 by the end of May and little harm will have been done. The disadvantaged lower paid will have tax refunds through their pay packets and the majority will be no worse off than last year. As for the self-employed, no harm has been done as no tax will be paid for the current year until January 2010.
The winners will be lower income element of the over 65s who deserve to benefit anyway.

Roger S Symonds, Truro,

Darling says ' help for poor later' and Ron Sanders says he is 'optimistic of repaying the Government loans in 5 years'. Both answers are simply buying time, and putting off the day of reckoning. As a pensioner, now payng double my former tax, I can accept the unacceptable, that the poorest are paying for the NHS funding, which led to some GP's now earning £250k pa, and the Northern Rock debacle, caused by greedy and rapacious Board executives. I also trust that Brown can accept that his days are numbered.

John, Hay on Wye, Hereford, UK

What about those of us on a small occupational pension, who were retired early because of ill-health. We live in this small pension and Incapacity Benefit ... and are now facing higher tax deductions. What is going to be done to compensate us? I for one will NEVER vote Labour again!

Sally , Uckfield, England

I have just received my April payslip and I am £11 p/m down now with the loss of the 10p rate. I now technically have to work for an hour and a half for nothing now, neither me or my children gain. The company I work for is struggling, and as a result no staff have been given a pay rise this year, not even a so-called 'cost of living' rise. So my low wage is having to absorb rising food, petrol and utility costs as well. This is the last straw, where is the incentive to actually work and not claim benefit? Brown/Darling & Co are an absolute joke and the next general election can't come soon enough.

Louise Clarence, Hemel Hempstead, UK

Looks like a very public suicide note from Labour. Best they let Mrs Cameron come round to No 10 to start measuring up for carpets & curtains.

Mungo, Aylesbury,

If the Tories had done this you could have understood it.... but this is the Labour Party....................... Imagine.

It worries me that he was apparently shaking with rage over his back benchers' inability to explain why they will be worse off to their constituents. (I expect he never sees his constituents.) Should a prime minister not have a bit more self control than that?

tris, Dundee, Scotland

Do these people really think they will help those in the old 10p band by handing the election to the Tories?

David Marusza, Islington, UK

Introduced by the then Chancellor Gordon Brown in 1999 to much fanfare of improving the lot of those caught by the poverty trap, perhaps the Prime Minister can explain why the benefits he espoused then are no longer valid today. It is inconsistencies like this which leads the electorate to believe that he is unfit for the stewardship of this country.

Dwight Vandryver, Scholar Green, Cheshire, UK

The best compensation you can give the low earners in this country Mr Brown, is by calling a general election. You bottled out of that last time by saying you wanted more time to explain your vision of Britain !

Please explain away ! During an election campaign - and then from the backbenchers afterwards !!

Britain has grown tired of you and your newly whitened teeth !

David, Swindon, Wiltshire

When something is unbelievably stupid, as is this tax fiasco, and the government is in denial the answer has to lie elsewhere. In recent years that has been Brussels.
I do not know what tax rates apply in other EU countries, but 18% is deducted from dividends in Spanish companies. Our CGT rate has just become the otherwise ridiculous figure of 18%. If in a couple of years our 20% rate is cut to 18% with a fanfare of trumpets as one of many reasons we should all be grateful to the EU and vote away whatever small part of our nation remains do not be surprised.

D.L. Stephens, York, England

There are so many failings and complications in the tax system, if only someone had the courage to make the necessary changes to eliminate income tax from the lower paid. The whole system is flawed and to even contemplate taxing below a reasonable minimum wage is a disgrace. It is time to pay a better pension, to get rid of means testing and let us all manage our own personal expenses. Even self assessment is is complicated and they are closing down tax advice offices so we have to speak to an adviser by phone for each query. ( probably India ) Please release us from the control of this greedy party and Gordon Brown.

Tony, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

I am a single divorced woman of 58 who had to give up work through ill health. I am on an occupational pension of less than £7,000 and will have to pay more tax as a result of this ridiculous decision. Why did Labour bring in this 10p tax if a few years later it decides to scrap it. I am disgusted at Brown and this government, although my family have been life-long Labour supporters. Everything the poor have to pay for regularly has increased dramatically recently, food, fuel, council tax etc. The only reason inflation is at so-called 2.5% is because luxury goods are not going up as fast. We need to eat and keep warm, not to buy luxury cars and yachts every day.

Linda Crombie, Loughton,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't we apparently afford to pay immigrants money towards supporting their children in their home countries?

In Britain, people are now rewarded not for working and supporting themselves, but for having children - often for that reason. I work with a young woman who cannot afford to buy a property, but she says most of the girls she was at school with have their own council houses by dint of getting pregnant.

Alistair Darling is waiting for a change in the global economic situation. I'm waiting for the next general election.

Instead of trying to save Brown's face, labour should realise that anything this unpopular is indefensible. There's no use carrying on declaring it's a good policy when nobody believes you. Drop the dead donkey.

I hope they don't though. This could be Labour's poll tax.

jane b, london, england

This is all horribly patronising for people on lower pay. They are being discussed as if they are charity cases! The Government should just admit what it has done, ( taken from the very poorest hard workers and handed it back out to well paid workers who don't need it in order to buy their votes), and until they do this they have lost millions of votes. Contrary to popular belief, low paid workers are not stupid, they know exactly what Labour have just done. I will be affected THIS MONTH by these changes and I don't want a vague promise of correcting this, maybe at the next budget, or maybe not . This is disgusting NOW and will remain disgusting until and beyond the next election. I'm sure Labour MP's will have their price.....and they will also pay the price for it.

judy, Liverpool, England

Let's not beat about the bush, let's cut the crap and cut to the chase, what we are witnessing is yet another incompetent decision on the matter of economic policy including taxation in UK. Over the last decade the Chancellor, now the PM, has made things much worse for all those on low pay and fixed incomes, including those on the minimum wage and pensioners, and he has attempted to offset his appalling sums by suggesting that increases in the child allowance, the introduction of child tax credits, pension credits and other forms of bureaucratic centralized control make up for any increases in direct and indirect taxation including the iniquitous Council Tax. He flogged off the family gold at knock-down prices; turned an inherited public sector surplus into a public sector debt; presided over a period when national debt increased from £337 Billion to £574 Billion; failed to restore the link between pensions and pay and now hammers the poorest people with smoke and mirrors. Appalling.

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk, England

How immoral and where was the outrage a year ago when Labour MPs voted for the Budget announcing the abolition of the 10p tax band? Again, the government does not support the poorest in society. It fails with tax. It fails with the minimum wage. It fails with energy. It fails with tax credits, allowances and a host of confusing ill thought out supplements.

Reinstate the 10p tax band, raise the minimum wage, surcharge employers who pay such that there employess need tax credits and all the other credits and allowances. Demand that the prepayment meter system discounts the price of electricity for the use by the energy companies of consumers' cash ahead of a service delivery.

In the name of God stop forcing the poor into abject poverty. Show humanity and a return to Labour idealism

Patrick, Taipei, Taiwan

It is not the abolition of 10p band per se that worries me althought that, in itself, is bad enough but more the crass stupidity of the man (Brown) to think no one would notice.
And he's the person with our future in his hands.
If the Labour Party have any desire to be reelectable at some time in the future they will rid themselves of this incompetent at the first opportunity.

A.Williams, Cradley Heath,

Yes, there should be a single tax regime, with a starting band that eliminated the need for the ridiculous & arcane tax credit system. That would also be an incentive to work.

We pump billions into the corrupt EU, only to be told how we must govern our Country, go cap in hand to them to seek permission to take action. If Darling is so strapped for cash, then the EU contribution is a good source, along with the foolish ID card database system, plus inumerable quangos. (Oh and MP's largesse at the expenses trough.)

Patrick North, Newcastle upon Tyne,

Can anyone explain to me what the 10p tax rate is?

Jimmy Mason, Newcastle on Tyne, Tyne/Wear

A little more Brown Balls Darling and there could be blood on the streets!
But for those of us born labour the only way to go is LibDem - I wonder if a hung parliament will make them listen?

What a grubby lot!

Jim Golightly, Prudhoe, England

Somebody's got to pay for Iraq, Afghanistan, Identity Cards, 2012 Olympics, Prescott's food allowance ...

Gaston deDada, Leeds,

I am paying twice as much tax as I would have done

Tara, Blackpool, UK

I hope Mr Darling will be able to explain to many hard workers in the UK why they are being charged an extra £10 a month in income tax whilst their bosses are better off.

We can but assume the voters will show their appreciation at the next election........

Mike, barnham,

So Darling makes the people a promise ! Wow.
This government also make one to the Police service and look how it stood by that.
Liars - too late now Mr Brown.
When you presented your last budget you laughed and smirked as you told the country about the reduction of the basic rate in IT to 20% - no mention of how.
Are you still laughing now Mr Brown?
What a real vote catcher. You've lost mine and millions of others, don't bother banging on about what this government has done for the poor of this country, the fact is you are either very thick or very arrogant. The game is up, you sold all the gold reserves when goldnwas at it's lowest price - nice one,
you wrecked our pensions - bet yours will be a corker and now
this fiasco with the 10p tax.
What a sparking example of how to be so far out of touch you could be - but never see it.
Bring on the next general election Gordon and then you'll see what the people of this country think of you.

Martin Briggs, Heversham, England

Tony Benn: Keeping people hopeless and pessimistic - see I think there are two ways in which people are controlled - first of all frighten people and secondly demoralize them.
Tony Benn: An educated, healthy and confident nation is harder to govern.

These comments were made in the film Sicko that focused on the NHS but I feel they are also relevant here. The government doesn't educate in schools about basic economics and the tax system. It relies on PAYE to maintain ignorance about how tax is calculated and creates tax credits because they know that there are hurdles to claiming them. The data shows that the poverty gap has increased under the labour government; therefore, the policies aren't working.

Raise the tax threashold to the level of the min wage, look at that Laffer curve and add a higher tax bracket, encourage marriage/civil partnerships by allowing the joint unit to have a higher untaxed income limit. Encourage people to work, not to claim.

Laura, Woking, Surrey

5.3 million tax paying voters who are NOT eligible for tax credits can be ignored- just like that. Today's socialist politicians are all smoke and mirrors/snake-oil merchants - and the those MPs who speak out are slapped down. Makes you proud to be British.

G. Harley, London,

i am a 58year old widow who recieves part of my husbands pension of £8,000 and a part time job paying £2.500 a year.As with many our age we have been foolish in saving for our later years, the extra tax will make a differenceto me .Throw an a
apple where there is an orchard thats the usual way isn`t it

Ann Barnsley UK

ann murtagh, barnsley, s yorkshire england

Labour stole from my personnel pension. Didn't see the headlines for this. These lowest paid can earn up 20,000 pound a year not so low. Labour are always stealing money from my earnings and wasting them its about time they got their house in order.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

I am affected big style, i dont earn much money and having extra tax taken off me is not on. Us lower paid people why should we suffer, they should be taxing extra on all these who earn over £18,000 a year and not below. It is descusing, therfore i think whats the point working anymore!!!

Debbie, hereford, herefordshire

In light of our current situation why wasn't the 10% droppoed to 5%? GB and AD have raised taxes in this country for our amazing education system - err we dont have one - ok well our wonderful NHS - err it's not wonderful - er where has the cash gone?

Quite easy this is how it works and has done for years:
Labour = High taxes - allegedly to fund improved public services
Tory = Low taxes - allegedly to incentivise the individual

So everbody thats says GB is not a Labour man, think again this is typical socialist thinking - the fact is the people he has targeted are the very poor who he, AD and the rest of the Tony Ben Fan club are supposed to protect.

MRS T told us but we wouldn't listen!!! I just hope that when DC wins the election by default that he can help the poor.

DD, London,

I am going to be affected by this and work hard to earn my living, I am a divorced woman of 57years of age, my income is the only income that I have, I am not able to claim any benefits whatsoever not that I consider I need to, I far prefer to earn my living, but I have to work sometimes 7 days a week just to eek out a meagre existence and I am a qualified administrator in one of the poorest areas of Kent, the only help I can get is 25% off my council tax, I am going to sign that petition I have already written to Gordon Brown at Downing Street complaining, we should all complain, and he should remember he won't get in again in an honest election, we the people didn't vote for him he can go back to Scotland

Jenny S, Ramsgate, Kent

From some of the contributions here, Labour now seem to be going through their own Poll Tax/Black Wednesday moment, as a prelude to almost inevitable catastophe on 1 May and defeat in 2009 or 2010.

While the main focus should rightly be on the failings of Brown/Darling, what is clear from recent interviews with George Osborne is that the Tories will not restore the 10% tax band if/when they take office. We also know that the Tories would never have introduced a 10% tax rate in the first place. So their current "concern" for the lowest paid is just another piece of Cameron-Osborne opportunism.

Also, funny how George Osborne is unable to give a detailed pledge re the 10% rate now - because, as he claims, he cannot be expect to make fiscal policy 2 years in advance of the Tories taking power - yet this did not prevent him unveiling their policy on inheritance tax last summer.

For those who are disiilusioned with Labour - fair point, but the Tories aren't the answer either.

Roy Pinney, Weston Super Mare,

The 10p tax rate is an appalling scam perpetrated by a desperate and precipitate government against the poorest members of society.
The tax system now benefits the higher earners, including government officials. it reminds me of the relief on Council tax for second home owners- those that have more are taxed at a more favourable level than those that have not.
I am a low earner- I work part-time due to ill-health. Rather than claim benefits- I choose to work despite the fact life is difficult- I prefer to put something back into society- I am a teacher. of adults, a tenuous position as I am not paid in my holidays and my classes are dependent on numbers. I also look after a church building, which serves the local community.
Financially, I exist.
I will pay at least £200 MORE tax due to the 10p tax law. I cannot afford it. Bills have risen and I am exceedingly worried.
Why does the government seek to penalise the poorest in this way? The policy should be immediately recanted.

Veronica Aldous, Purley, UK

the government says pensions will be better off in spite of the aboliton of the 10p tax band. My date of birth is 17.10.39. my private pension is £10,515 pm my state pension £4,960. Can you explain how I will be a winner. Thank you - Sue Arnold

susan arnold, NORWICH, norfolk

A 10% tax rate is a great way of easing workers into the tax system without the shock of the next band at 20%. It means lower paid workers begin to contribute to services provided nationally. If pensioners earn a good enough pension, then there is no reason why they too should not pay some tax too.

Bill , Cockermouth, UK

My money says that Labour will announce a HUGE tax benefit for all those affected by this 10p tax bracket business - this announcement will come just before the next election, by which time the current fuss will have died down...

Andy, Sutton,

Brown and Darling should go to Specsavers , as they seem to be the only ones who can't see the gross unfairness they have bestowed upon the younger women pensioners and on other low paid people !

sandra, gloucester, uk

I would encourage anyone affected by this to sign the petition on the Downing Street petitions web site, in the economics section, to have the 10p tax rate re-instated.

Paul J, Ivybridge, Devon

I am affected by the 10p tax rule. Both my husband and myself retired early on a modest pension and a small rental income. We only just get into the next band of tax so I have estimated that we will be paying around £360 more tax in this coming year. We are already on such a low income (we budgeted to retire early on the current rules) We would never have thought that a Labour Government would make the VERY LOWEST earners this much worse off. Please help. Our Daughter goes off to University this year so we are not eligible for tax credits. We will not be able to give our Daughter any help at University. Just what has Mr Darling got in mind. I think I know, he will wait until the furore has died down and then do absolutely nothing. Our pension system has been hit so badly by this Government and now this. What is he trying to do to us.

Pat Hiscoke, Caterham England,

The solution is simple. The Government are not going to recompense the lowest paid for many months, so when we go to the supermarket, just tell them we will pay them next year. Really, what are we supposed to do in the interim?

Peter, Brixham,

I am a 63 year old female, drawing a 'married women's' pension and a small occupational pension, which only amounts to £6290 a year. Because of my age I am only entitiled to £5435 tax free pay. Had I been over 65, I wouldn't have had to pay any tax at all, because my tax free pay would have been £9030. Last year the tax I paid was at the 10% rate, this year I am one of the lucky ones who now have to pay double the amount of tax than before. Great isn't it? I do not qualify for any pension credits because I was stupid enough to put some money away for my old age - wasn't that a silly idea? If Mr Brown decides to pat us all on the head and tell us he'll change things next year (I doubt whether he'll be PM then), I'd like him to know that I want the money that I'm losing, now, not a promise to address his mistakes in 12 months time. His maths skills really do need looking at, I'm amazed he couldn't work out the figures. If he had he would have seen that the lower paid people lose.

Tina, Bristol, UK

All this is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette- "let them eat cake" or Nero fiddling whilst Rome burnt.

The atmosphere caused by mounting problems now at the Government's door is very similar to those that confronted the previous Conservative Government in its last throes. The pattern is clear. Unrest on their backbenches over several issues, the attitude that they know best and have always got it right. We have now heard the commitment that they need to explain their policies more clearly! This always comes when a Government realises it is in trouble and cannot continue arrogantly thinking it can do what it wants unharmed. Why did they have to wait until now. Panic has now set in. The electorate are not total idiots as this Governement will find out - it's the usual course of event and in the next few years we will be saying exactly the same thing about the next Conservative adminstration but probably a lot sooner.

John , Lincoln,

Labour again taxing the poor to feed the banks! Can't wait to see which one GB works for after hes kicked out of office but be ready to read about his 7 figure salary!

Dean, Southampton, England

Well done Gordon you have made Labour unelectable for the next twenty years.

Terry, Newcastle, UK

richard Chaplin, london, London

Well Mr Chaplin, as a expat living in Spain, let me please share some facts wit you.
I live in a village house of 86 square metres with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, no garage, no garden. The village has 2500 souls and we have the following services: 24 hours medical centre, ambulance on station 24/7, 2 police stations, fire station, huge communal swimming pool, vet, chemist, library, daily refuse collection and street cleaning.
Fro this I pay the following: Council tax €53 per annum, water €77 per annum, refuse collection €69 per annum. Thats it, nothing more!
In the UK 4 years ago my council tax was £980 and for what? a 60 watt bulb in the street and bins emptied weekly, sometimes.
Now you Mr Chaplin may like to pay through the nose for poor services if you like. As for me, I will enjoy the good life and when the time comes, take my chances in the hospital in Valencia where I stand a good chance of getting fist rate treatment
Envy eats at the soul.

Nigel Miller, Valencia, Spain

Having seen Mr Darling's performance on Andrew Marr's show yesterday, I can only paraphrase Lear;

"Remember the rules, low tax tomorrow, low tax yesterday, but NEVER LOW TAX TODAY!"

Anil Chatterjee, Manchester,

Yet another blow for low paid workers. Hope Brown realises Labour won't get elected by treating folks like this. It really gets to me when I work hard, and see some folks on benefit driving rounds in cars, going from pub to pub and next thing you know they're off on holiday - all things I can't afford. With this latest news, I have to ask him what is the point of working?

Steve Jones, Derbyshire, Uk

We should have a single income tax regime, not three - income tax, national insurance and tax credits, all with different rules. We need a Chancellor with a proper intellectual grasp of tax policy.

P.S. Billy Wiz - they did put a tax on non-doms.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

We have always voted Labour but know we will have to pay
an extra £232 each Tax because of the increase from 10%
to 20% Tax.
WE WILL NOT VOTE LABOUR AGAIN
Mr & Mrs Turner

David Turner, Wigston, Leicestershire

A noted phychologist once said "One of the tests of leadership is to recognise a problem before it becomes an emergency"
I would like to suffix these wise words with "And the leader that causes the problem in the first place becomes the problem"

In this case, a problem that can easily be solved - remove Brown - remove the problem

Geoff Lees, Watchet,

QUOTE" Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, the current Chancellor acknowledged that the Government knew the abolition would lead to some people losing out, but said that it had chosen to help pensioners and those with children as a “first step”. "
Funny how widows under 65 were left out of the "poorest" list.
I get 50% of the company pension my husband paid for.
I get 90% of the State Pension my husband paid for.
I get 50% of the Graduated Pension my husband paid for. My income is already less than 50% of what my hb and I had with Incapacity Benefit, Mobility Allowance and his company pension, and he paid no Income Tax.
Now I am charged Income Tax at 20% instead of 10% I was paying. All this on a total Income of less than £7,500 p.a. Less than a worker on minimum pay. Why have widows not been given concessions like pensioners over 65 and families with children?

Widow's Mite, Windsor, England

It must be good living in LabourLand. The abolition of the 10% tax band has all but eradicated the increase in the basic rate threshold. And I went to buy some bread on Saturday, not one of the expensive name brands that cost over £1 a loaf, but a supermarket generic. It went up 6p from the same time 2 weks ago, and even that was up 5p from abour a year back. Petrol, up another 3p this week too. So that makes a mockery of the supposedly 3% inflation rate. Just figured out this absurdity too, I work full time and my wife does not work. I cannot use her unused tax allowance against my income. If we both worked part-time, and each received half my current salary, we would actually be better off. Being married, we'll be penalised too when we get our pensions. We'll get a married couples allowance. If we were single and co-habiting we'd get two single persons allowances! No wonder British people are emigrating!!!!

Ron, Milton Keynes, Bucks

Re: 10p tax abolition and all it means, Is it not time to abolish the farce that is the N.I.contributions TAX. everyone knows tha it is just another " back door" tax raising scheme and its abolition would allow the taxpayer to see EXACTLY how much tax we are all paying,It does tend to get overlooked when the conversation is about income tax.It would also stop the government claiming it has reduced overall tax. Obfuscation is what I would call it. While on the subject, please everyone who reads this tirade, stop referring to this government as a labour government, They are certainly not .!!!

Jim Hill,, Wolverhampton,

@paulc, gloucester

They should scrap the upper age limit on NI too

Andy Davies, Glos, UK,

I'm delighted that the £110 per year I'm worse off as a result of the 10p change helps pay for William's flight to a stag party.

W. J. Scaife, Chelmsford, England

The government is willing to help the banks with their liquidity following their poor investment decisions but is not willing to resolve the problem they have caused with the 10p rate of tax. Why is it a Labour government is throwing money at the well off(banks, people earning over £18k) and creating problems for those on low pay. My son, aged 33 ,earning approx £13k will lose 1 weeks pay due to this change therefore on the 52nd week I am sure his landlord, gas, electricity, and council will assist him by refusing payment!!!! The government now appears to be intent on concentrating their efforts on the banks and their own benefits. Bring back Tony Blair, at least we knew he didn't care.

Richard, Stockport, UK

Poor people are poor all the time and cannot wait till 'later'.

Gaia, Rome, Italy

more bureaucracy, more paperwork, more goverment room for failure like working tax credits. its a shambles. how come they hit the least well off with the abolition of 10% tax? thought it was a labour government?

james p, oxford,

Can we afford him? With £100Billion pumped into Northern Rock or was it through Northern Rock into the banking system plus this further £100billion of tax payers money non which can ever be recovered. That’s £200 Billion of our money they have spent to save the mortgage market? If that’s what they are really doing what an expensive way to do it. Isn't this the cost of all of the dithering in the first place by Mr Brown who broke up control of banks between three competing bodies with no clearly defined responsibilities so every one was asleep at the button including Mr Brown. Between his destruction of the £100billion pension industry, and the selling of half of our gold reserves at £275 when they are now at £950.00 an ounce, paying £150 billions into the EU when the Auditors refused to sign off the books for 13 years saying 95% was unaccounted for/missing, how can this man remain in power. He is a one man destroyer of the British economy and he keeps on saying it is RIGHT???

Jas, Alders, UK

Darling tells Andrew Marr that the minimum pay has been increased but fails to point out that the Government does not fund the increase but DOES benefit directly from the increased tax represented by the abolition of the 10p rate!

Michael , Huntingdon,

The problem with "compensation schemes" is that they entrap the individual and also make him/her more dependent on the government. Perhaps , Mr Darling wants to use this to ensure that he gets their votes in future.

Hamad Lone, London, England

The tax allowance and NI floor should have been set so that those on slightly more than minimum wage do not pay it... (and that should include most pensioners). The NI ceiling should have been removed completely so those who can pay do...

paulc, gloucester,

Multiple whammy. Destroy manufacturing to create a predominantly service industry, which in turn relies on foreign talent in the city. Then, sell off the gold. When you then realise that these city guys are making money, and paying a lot of taxes, get rid of them with non-dom legislation. Thus starts the exodus of people who do pay a lot of tax, as well as exporters (Shire). Finally, tax the poor more.

If nothing, you have to admire Brown and Blair for finding really original ways to mess things up over and over again.

A blind monkey would have seen all this coming.

Harry, St Albans,

If you've all got any sense, you'll do what I did six years ago, emigrate. I sold up, made a killing on my house, bought a bigger, better house over here, for cash, and haven't looked back!! Get out while you can, UK plc is sinking fast, and not just because of global warming!!

Fred, Orlando, FL, USA

What are people like us to do with less?
A low paid couple, I worked in children's entertainment for over 20 years, even when minimum wage came in I worked for less as I was paid statutory min but always worked more hours.
Husband has worked in schools for over 35 years as a science technician and wage is well below average. Never holidayed abroad , our car is 20 years old & we will have to pay higher road tax next time, if we can afford it. Would use public transport if there was a decent service here in rural Lanarkshire! Never had any additional benefits as only 1 child.
But we think, we live well. People are astonished when we tell them our food costs. We don't use car unless necessary but it would be nice not to have to think about how we manage on less/ have some money to spend on reducing our carbon footprint which is already smaller than average... I met Alistair Darling at my work place some years ago when he was still in Edinburgh...didn't like the insincere eyes.

Laura Shirley, Biggar, South Lanarkshire

Leaders who do not listen to the voice of the people are usually called 'dictator'

Mike, Gravesend, England

Is Gorden Brown a recruiting sergent for the Tory party, or is he intent on loosing the next election, because he is puttings millions off from voting for him.

c hooks, lincolnshire,

A labour government making life harder for those on lower pay? Why? Incredible. Imagine if Thatcher had tried this in the 80's - the screams would have been heard all over the land. However the current administration are all fat-cats - rich men governing for the rich. Labour? Rubbish - they are the Capitalist Party.

Oliver Wrathall, Exeter, Devon

what on earth has this country come to? reading this article leaves me almost lost for words! as a long time "shouter" at the tv and radio when politicians (only labour politicians,as i assume tory politicians dont really care) seem indifferent to ordinary working people's problems.this really does seem to be the nadir. it's that depressing that i can't raise the necessary outrage to feel angry anymore. what a shame!

paul, hua hin, thailand

Mr. Brown is totally out of touch. Clearly his advisers haven't informed him that council taxes have risen, plus gas, electricity, water rates, food and petrol/diesel. However, I will soon have less funds to be able to cope with all of the above. I am 56 years of age and on the 25th of this month I will have worked for 40 years. I have never claimed one benefit, not had children so no child benefit either. I earn much less than £18,000 per year yet Mr. Brown has deemed it necessary that I assist the lifestyles of the super-rich ! No wonder this Government hasn't any money for low paid workers - they're spending it all in Iraq ! The working poor are getting poorer - and this under a LABOUR Government. My subs have been withdrawn ! Time to consider your position Mr. Brown - oh and those of your so-called Advisers. Meg, York

Meg Hardy, Yorkshire,

Increasing taxes on the poorest in society is unfair or just plain wrong. That the poorest 30% in society will, on average, gain from the budget is irrelevant. Unfortunately, the politicians are far removed from the life of the poor and don't understand that for someone at the bottom of society £5 removed from their income is a disaster. They ought to hang their heads in shame, but will they?

C Byrne, Pinner, UK

they can't help the 10% of the poorest in the UK while at the same time billions are made available to banks to get them out of trouble they are responsible for. Just another big reason why this government must be totally voted out of office. They created this problem - they can do something about it but they won't.

Bill Moriarty, Ilford, Essex

yet again childless couples are hit hard....i shouldn't be surprised! no wonder so many young professionals are moving abroad - britain is turning into a scroungers paradise. where is the incentive to work when the lower incomes are the worst hit!??? we will def see an increase in benefit applications as people wont be able to AFFORD to work....utter madness. oh yeah and then the taxes will rise again to support them all!! great thinking mr brown!

alison, glasgow,

We cannot afford tax concession for our own people but Labour can afford to spend nine billion pound of taxpayers money on Africa. UK first!!!!

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Can you imagine Gladstone saying "I cannot undo it"

stephen bull, fontes, france

And they didn`t see this going to happen BEFORE the budget ?

Jim, Sidcup/Kent,

Can someone get hold of the UK Plc accounts book in order that we can see where all our taxes have been spent? It seems to me that a Labour government that cant even keep its owb political parties expenditure in the black has no chance at managing the nations accounts. Face it people this government has driven us to bankrupcy.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

I'm sure that there will be many people who lose out as a result of the abolition of the 10% band who will not be eligible for any compensation, as they will not fit into any of Nulab's client state categories.
But the fact is that we all (excepting possibly some non doms) pay too much tax as a result of major incompetence in the running of of the public services over the last 11 years (not that they were perfect before).
Why does Gordon Broon not express his apparent admiration of the USA and how things are done there by emulating their low tax economy (if indeed it is a low tax economy) by, amongst other things, increasing everyone's tax free allowance to a sensible level (say 10K at least)- this would more than compensate for the loss of the 10% band. But of course while chancellor he has allowed such a public sector debt to be run up (with largely no noticeable improvement in anything) that I suppose it's too late to take such a course of action.

Jorg, Yeoford, UK

Is Mr Chaplin from London one of our freeloading civil servants by any chance? Obviously delusional.

Andy, Loughborough, Engalnd

Increased tax burden for the middle classes. Labour knock on my door during an election they'll get a bucket of water.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire

Yet another example of the giddiness resulting from spin.

Mike L, Chippenham, Wilts

as a couple living on a low income we will be severely hit by this policy . i myself am not working because of severe health problems and my wife works part time to help make ends meet so we don't have to claim any more than basic incapacity benefit we do not qualify for working tax as she doe's not work enough hours,at the moment she pays a small amount of tax which will treble if this goes through, this to most people is a trifling amount but to us it is the difference between having a loaf of bread on the table or not. i have voted labour all my life and am now 59 but they have just lost my vote and no doubt thousands like us in similar circumstances, i still can't believe a labour government could do this to the worst off in our community

A. Thompson, Wallsend, England

The quality of the maths from this government is clearly a product of the poor schooling attainments. The 10% tax band was £2,150 in 2006/07 which equates to £215 for each fully qualifying person.
If there are 5million affected by the removal of the lower rate then the cost to restore it is in the region of £10.75 million and not the the widely reported 7-15 Billion pounds. Or have I missed something? If not then it is clearly affordable but the political courage to admit the cock-up is sadly lacking. As a pensioner aged 60 with an income of less than £15,000 I am affected by this and very annoyed. Good luck to Frank Field MP and the rebels.

Ian, Bath, UK

Something people have not picked up on is that when people soon pick up their April pay slips it will be clear that middle income earner's will also take a hit as employee NI contributions shoot upwards as the NI ceiling was increased by more than inflation. The budget was not only affecting low earners - although the only winners from last budget were those with kids.

JB, Budapest,

"Gordon Brown has so far publicly refused to accept that the abolition of the 10p rate will leave many low-paid workers, particularly single people and childless couples, worse off. "
It only took me 10 minutes with a simple spread sheet to prove that someone on £10,000 PA is £176 worse off. Someone on £30,000 PA is £223 better of. In my book that's robbing the poor to pay the rich. QED! If Gordon Brown does not have the intelligence to work that out he should be thrown out of office immediately, together with all those tMP's that support him.

Richard Mansfield, Shrewsbury, England

No matter how bad the tories get (and I lived right through Thatcher and Major) I will NEVER vote Labour again.
I'd rather vote Liberal **shudder**

Phill, The Wirral, England

How strange that the incompetent Darling can do nothing to reinstate the 10p tax band for those in society who are the neediest, but can allow all sorts of tax concessions to the wealthy. Is that what the Labour Party's principles are all about?

I suspect the so-called Labour tax rebels, having made a bit of a show and little bit of noise in an effort to appease their constitiuents, will tamely vote for the Government's nasty, mean income tax theft from the less well off.

Perhaps Gordon Bean is trying to be Robin Hood in reverse, "Rob the Poor to Help the Rich". Perhaps he is fed up of politics and sees this as his way out, for it would seem that a well-deserved politicial oblivion beckons him and his cronies.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Don't ever vote for these incompetents again, you know, during this recent cold spell I saw several MPs with their hands in their OWN pockets!

Clive Burghard, LANCING, ENGLAND

I am working for a temp agency and am on a rubbish wage and bad terms and conditions. My position is made even worse by this penny pinching government. I used to think that labour was a party that looked after the working class-not any more though,I will never vote labour ever again after this betrayal of the poor.

David Laverick, Brinsford, Staffs

Perhaps The Chancellor could employ a single parent as an economic advisor, I can think of no one in the world who could be better qualified for this job, he clearly does not have a clue.
Actually, since the Government is importing foreigners to take our jobs from us at half price, I would be happy to do his job for half price, the expenses alone would make it worthwhile.

Clive Burghard, LANCING, ENGLAND

Well, when will people wake up to the fact we are all getting taxed to death for Gordon to squander it on his pet projects. He only abolished the 10p tax band and cut the basic rate to 20p for his own political ends. Labour only govern for the good of the Laour party, nobody else, their mendacity when someone gets in the way is well chronicled. Unfortunately I had to leave these shores after 10 years of Labour destroying the very fabric of the nation. If you want your children to get a good education, have decent health care, have any semblance of law and order then you'll not get it under Labour. Their stock answer for any criticism is that they have increased funding, but has they have proved that doesn't work on its own.

Dan, Hong Kong,

Frank Keegan, Alderley Edge says:-

Gordon Brown has made the tax system so complicated that no one can understand it - except those with tax advisers.

I would dispute that. I believe that not even the Inland Revenue are capable of understanding the unbelievably over-complex system of tax and benefits that this government has introduced.

This is typical, I'm afraid, of the Socialist's obsession with "Means testing". Basically it means that if you do anything to help support yourself, you are punished but if you smoke and drink away or otherwise waste everything you earn, you are rewarded with benefits. It's a crazy system and proved inviable in so many parts of the world with the demolition of the Berlin Wall and in the USSR, China and all the Communist countries.

Richard, Alicante, Spain

Why is it that some people always say 'time to start looking (to) emigrate, whenever a issue comes up? Please go. Pay taxes in other countries for fewer services. Then, like so many others, you can return and use the national health service when you need it in later life. Save me from those who have never lived abroad but always intend to do it, and save me from those who are now expats and lost - forever making a comment on an England they no longer understand and forever an expat in a country to which they can never fully belong.

richard Chaplin, london, London

Any Labour M.P. who did not see what the effect of this change in taxation would be must be must be considerably thicker than two short planks. I think that they must have been too frightened of Mr. Brown to speak out, but now that he has wounded himself badly they feel that they can have a go - just like jackals. Undoubtedly there are invisible large birds with scraggy necks circling over Downing St. held aloft by rising political hot air.

Peter Davis, Reading., England

Personally I have benefited from the 10p abolishing and reuction by 2p on the basic rate. However, I am disgusted by the way the Government has acted, to place the poorest in such a position at a time when food, fuel etc are going up in price is scandalous and dishonourable. Ill estimate that the affected households may be £500 a year worse off, an amount that will hurt the poorest, as it would myself even though i earn over 30k. those earning over... say £100k would be better placed to stomach a loss of £500 a year than those earning between 5k and 18k. how did the Government get it so wrong and why are they getting away with it?

joseph, London,

I am disgusted with the manner that the Treasury reps all deny the blindingly obvious. Most allowances have been RPI'ds by 4%, so the 10% band would be £2320. The doubling of the rate on this band maximises extra tax to £232. This is mitigated by a reduction of 2% on income above this level and zeros the increase at 5 x 2320 or £11600. Thus at :-
£5435 extra tax nil
£7755 extra tax £232
£19355 extra tax nil.
Anyone between these levels will pay more tax than would otherwise have been the case.
Everyone above £19355 will pay less up to a max of £440 or so.
In addition, the 10% savings allowance completely complicates the simplification theory; legally it would require everyone to submit tax returns to obtain any benefit as you should not use R85 for income above £5435.
It looks like an election bribe for an election that did not take place. Does Brown and his obnoxious minions think we are all stupid?

S. Allen, Corby, Northants

I am amazed by the similarities between England's current usurper and the last one we had, Prince John.

Just like Prince John, Brown has an army of sheriffs of Nottingham, stealing from the poor to give to the rich.

So who is our modern day Robin Hood?

By the way; remember exactly who Prince John's brother King Richard the Lionheart was fighting. The King's fight continues today, in the streets of Iraq, Israel and even at Glasgow airport.

History should be compulsory at school, as it is self evidend that many MPs think watching CNN is an equivalent to a history degree.

As Max Weber once stated in a famous essay; most politicians are there because it is a career not because they are utopian idealists.

Zen, London,

Alastair Darling vehemently defended this increase on TV this morning. He has stated categorically that he won't reverse it. It was also admitted that the move will benefit the Shadow Chancellor and Jeremy Vine who was doing the interview. So the £300 that Mr Brown is taking from me will be going to him, his MP's and all other higher paid workers. What an entirely disingenuous argument then, that this money went to 'families' and the 'poor. It was straightforwardly taken from them. Disgusting.......ABSOLUTELY disgusting and if Brown thinks that low paid workers don't vote he is a bigger idiot than I thought.

judy, Liverpool, England

The latest changes to the tax laws to double the tax burden for the poorest workers in the system is the most clear indication ever that the labour party has abandoned any pretence of representing working people.

The latest news is that, at best something will be done in the next tax year. This shows a completely disconnected understanding of the position these people are now going to have to live through.

With major rising prices in the basic cost of living on top of this the government are going to bring misery to the lowest paid.

I have been a labour supporter all my life, but can assure you if there is no decision to put this right, as a matter of urgency. I cannot support any party that imposes this blatantly unfair method of making the poor poorer.

R Steele, Wallsend, UK

We're all still paying for Browns decision to sell our gold reserves for 290 dollars and ounce, now worth over 900 dollars an ounce.

With financial management at that level, all sorts of taxes will have to rise.

What's happening to the windfall income of petrol tax. The percentage of the total price hasn't gone down so unexpected fuel tax income must have gone through the roof.

Tim, Sherborne, UK

Mr.Brown said that nobody would lose out over the doubling of the lowest tax rate. So he obviously thinks that anybody, single and earning around the basic wage or a retired couple with a small pension are 'nobody. Thank you Mr.Brown for telling us what you think of us. Another of Ed Balls 'So What' moments.

Peter, Brixham, Devon

They should have uplift of personal allowances to around 9K or 10K per year to negate this. They can hardly say they cannot afford it - In past year government are receiving 20% more VAT from vehicle fuel prices, over 20% more VAT from domestic fuel costs. These VAT receipt rises are unlikely to fall over time and a substantial increase in personal allowances will make up for all the years Gordon froze them.
Comments already made about media are very true, its about time the media stopped just picking up the headline grabbing stuff the government chuck out and start looking at what they are hiding underneath.

Chris, Glasgow,

Why should those of us on low incomes have to pay even more tax? Isn't it enough that we have already been hit by large increases in food, energy and water costs? Isn't it enough that, apart from this year (with local elections imminent of course), the government's under-funding of councils has resulted in above-inflation increases in council tax that impact disproportionately on us? Isn't it enough that Brown and Darling have imposed below-inflation pay rises on those of us who happen to work in the public sector?

If Darling increases benefits, when "the global economic situation allows", to compensate the poorest losers, will those of us who have committed the 'sin' of accumulating savings still be penalised?

I used to be a Labour supporter and I saw 1997 as a 'new dawn'. Now I've opted out of my union's political levy because some of it goes to the party.

John Heathcote, ST COLUMB,

Nothing Gordon Browns does is sound in any way, he wants the low paid to claim another one off his disaster schemes...namely Tax Credits,which has an error rate off about 50/60% hitting the poorest in this country, when the dear old HMRC demand it back, and blame the poor for its errors..saying you should of known..i woulndt trust brown or the whole of the HMRC, as far as i could throw them buildings and all..at the moment the HMRC seems to be in chaos.. data gate. losing millions of peoples details, squandering money on court cases..for which they loose..having to pay back millions to businesses, thet now have been proved right, that they have aid too much tax..at the moment the tresury seems to be almost looking down the back off the sofa looking for loose change, and any moneymaking scam it can pull off...latest being the abolishment of the 10P tax band... sorry gordon it time for you to go...do the rifght thing and resign..

Robert, Bristol,

Those who castigate Gordon Brown should closely examine the alternates in either the government or opposition. Take for example Cameron and Clegg plus any on the front bench. Then ask, a question often posed by those who served in France & Belgium during the first World War relating to trust: "Would I like to have this guy beside me in the trenches ?"

Peter Hughes, Burnham, Bucks

I think this is a Treasury 'don't care' moment.
When the Chancellor (G Brown) was planning the 2007 budget the Treasury would run a model and would know exactly who, and exactly how many, would be affected by the abolition of the 10p rate.
I suspect that the Chancellor decided they were only 'little' people who could be ignored and forgotten about: in fact he 'didn't care' about them.
I bet everyone affected cares very much about having to make a contribution towards his (and their own MP's) expences. They (people in the Treasury and Parliament) are so cushioned by their total salary packages that they have little understanding of what life is really like for ordinary people and what an impact this increase in tax will have on the comparatively small number of people who are not eligible for benefits, credits or any form of support, who must earn their own living and provide for themselves. Perhaps that's why they they didn't care enough.

PLaycock, West Yorkshire,

Mr Brown seems intent on political self-mutilation. That makes this masochistic as well as sadistic.

Viktorovich, Moscow, RF

Every traditional Labour supporter must be deeply ashamed when they see their supposedly 'Labour' leader making the very poorest wage earners poorer.

In the wonderful days before New Labour, any Labour politician just had to look to their political guts to know that this sort of policy was wrong.

Regretfully, over ten years ago, when it began grubbing for Tory votes, the Labour Party cast itself adrift from its core principles and now it is too late. It is lost, never to return.

We see the party only spinning helplessly, with no idealogical rudder, and searching for some principles, any principles would do, to anchor itself to, and so halt the drift.

Oh, some ministers and MPs may plead with the captain to turn back, but I fear the Labour ship has sailed too far into the Tory sea, and is doomed.

Jim Murray, Liverpool,

Gordon has lost his moral case for which he so long pretended to stand for. Stealing the poor to bribe the rich! No way Gordon, you can get my vote this time for. I shall break away for the first time in my life.

Sorry pal! No more voting for labour.

M. A. Jabbar, Altrincham, Cheshire

Brown's anger is as much for himself as Labour MPs.
He has been undone by his " to-clever by half " politics.
When this 10p abolition was announced to Parliment in, concert with the headline rate reduction ( to cheering from Labour MPs who don't cotton- on very fast ) it was to shoot the Tories tax fox ahead of the election he had determined to call when he replaced Blair.The implimentation, as he knew (and consequent fuss) was a year ahead by which time ,from the base of his then opinion poll standing, he would be elected in his own right and safe for five years.
Then, he lost his nerve and decided to blunder on past calling an election in which he would have probably scrapped a win.
Brilliant political tactition ,dreaming in his own bathtub, undone by his lack of nerve when the water cooled.
As one who loses may I damn the man and advise next time he has such a scheme he consults the lady we pay to clean his flat.

robert everitt, wolverhampton,

I've been hit by the cut of the 10p tax too, I'm in my middle 30's, single without children, and earn about £10,000 a year (I'm temping at £6 an hour until I can find a permanent job at £14,000 a year minimum).
I cannot claim housing benefits nor income-based JSA because I have over £16,000 in savings and investments (savings towards a deposit to get on the property ladder, emergency savings, and I haven't started saving for my retirement yet).
Food prices are going up and my landlady would like to increase the rent because her mortgage has gone up. She came up with a swell idea for me to boost my income: take a second P/T job in the evening or at the weekend! Splendid! I will just have to do without sleep, since I'm already studying P/T, and hunting for new temporary assignments every couple of weeks or so does take time too!
Guess what my landlady does for a living? She's a civil servant, with a a good salary, but she's on PAID sickness leave nearly half the time...
Work more..

Carol, Bristol,

What I would like to know is whether the 70 (or thereabout) MP's who are orchestrating the rebellion against the abolition of the 10 % tax band at the moment did actually vote in favour of the tax bill when it was being discussed by the Parliament at Westminster and, if so, why did they vote in favour of it at that time.

Marcela Chisholm, Port Glasgow, Scotland, UK

The mind begins to boggle when one considers the alternatives : Cameron, whose parody on Blair is even beyond the belief of any rational elector and Clegg, following in like ilk, but unable to tell the difference from his right and his left. Furthermore the poor old Londoners, left with Johnson or "Paddick." WHAT A CHOICE !!

Peter Hughes, Burnham, Bucks

Of course the politicians are not protesting at the unfairness of the abolition of the 10% rate, but at the prospect of the backlash they are expected to receive in the forthcoming elections. Of course they want something done before May 1st, to claw some votes back.

Garley, London, Greater Scotland

Brown and Labour have created a complex tax system that costs us billions. It talks about investment and yet the major changes to hospitals and schools have largely been paid for by debt in the guise of PFI. Every aspect of the government is a bureaucratic mess that would take decades to unravel.

This is not news though. Many people voted for this feckless government at the last election and now are paying the price. Perhaps a Labour victory was needed though because until now the meme of tax and tax again to improve public services has been compulsive for many. Now that it is hitting peoples pockets they are starting to look at the appalling waste this government has created.

Lets hope the Tories when they are elected have the nerve to slash public spending and radically change our tax system. I doubt they will. People in power don't like giving that power away.

Time to start looking emigrating.

Simon, Nottingham, UK

In the UK, democracy and people's freedom are very systematically exploited and slowly colonised, controlled by the democratically elected government.

Reduce Council Tax, Income Tax and Stop taxing (read ‘Robbing’) people for all stupid reasons. When Mr.Brown and Co stop throwing our tax money into building swimming pools in Iraq and Afghanistan, the poor Taxpayer’s in the UK will have a chance to pay less tax.

NEED A BIG REVOLUTION.. WAKE UP ALL.

CHANGE THE FUTURE TODAY.

Uma Shankar, UK,

These proposals were announced last year, where were all the whinging Labour rebels then? Surely not a coincidence that they have suddenly woken to the plight of low income earners with local elections around the corner. Reap what you sow springs to mind. The government is way out of touch with reality, just look at what they claim is the inflation rate. I guess the internal Labour protests will force some sort of very bureaucratic HMRC solution with increased credits that will be beyond the wit of most people to comprehend or even work out if they are better off or not after the tax change.

Ian, Bristol,

Johnathan in Dronfield says that when the 10p rate cut was announced he didnt take notice as he wouldnt be affected-he was all right. Now -unemployed he sees what a terrible thing this is. I work in the job centre and see many people every day who have been catapulted into unemployment and are now looking at low paid jobs.These are people who firmly believed that only the dross of society didnt have a job.They now realise that all too often its people just like you. Tomorrow your firm may well hand you a redundancy notice -just as has happened to a lot of the people I speak to. How far will a 12,000 pound a year job get you do you think? And how happy will you be to pay MORE tax on this amount?
Its not 'the low paid' -it could be you tomorrow.

betty, hayes , uk

Brown keeps harping on about no one will be worse off as they can claim tax credits. Not so, although I have one child and have in the past received tax credits, they are now clawing it back and I will not receive any more crdits until at least 2009. So, yes, I will be worse off when I get me next pay packet end of April along with millions of others. Having said that, why on earth do we have to complete forms just to get the taxes back we have had taken off our pay in the first place. It's crazy and very unfair..

Sandie Reed, Clevedon,

It never fails to astound me in a country of 60 million people the best we can come up with to lead us in Government is Brown or Cameron, I wish I had the money to join you ex-pats!

Steve, coventry, uk

how come Gordon Brown cannot afford the 7 billion to help 10p tax payers but can afford 50 billion for his friends in the Banks?

smarsh, elgin,

If I were a cynical policy researcher for the government, I might conclude that a large number of those less well-paid were foreign nationals and so anyway unable to vote and that a large proportion of British nationals on low pay have, historically, not used their vote.
Advice: you can get away with it, prime minister.

Robert, London, London

I call for a vote of no confidence. Oust Brown from atop his solid gold throne nestled amongst the piles of jewels and treasures he is draining out of the public pocket.

Ro, Cheltenham,

Gordon "Bottler" Brown should get the economic intellegensia in the Treasury ro come up with a tax structure that does not penalise those on low wages and gets rid of the Byzantine Tax credit system. A good first step would be a significant raising of the personal allowance. Step two would permit a non working wife's personal allowanc to be used by the Male breadwinner.

Why is it so difficult?. These "First Division" civil servants are hired from the elite of our finest Universities. They should be able to come up with a sound plan.

Davidka. East Yorkshire.

W D Toulman, WALKINGTON, UK

Why does The Times put the pro-ecstasy pro-tax anti-choice Green party's London mayoral candidate on their slideshow but not UKIP's?

UKIP won 2.7 million votes last Euros and has 17,500 members. Slightly more than the Greens.

H. Morgan, Leeds,

I am 6