JUST over a week before local government elections it is no surprise that both main opposition parties are seeking to make maximum political capital out of the axing of the 10p income tax band.
But what is surprising is just how much discomfort this measure from Gordon Brown's last budget as Chancellor is causing him as Prime Minister because of its unpopularity among Labour MPs.
It is also astonishing that the issue should have only come to the boil now (a year after its announcement) with the widespread realisation of how many low earners will suffer because of it.
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The potential seriousness of the situation is shown by the reaction of all East Lancashire's Labour MPs.
Several weeks ago Hyndburn's Greg Pope tabled (and then later withdrew) an Early Day Motion calling for the 10 per cent tax band to be reinstated. He and Darwen and Rossendale's Janet Anderson have already signed the amendment to the Finance Bill tabled by Frank Field and Pendle's Gordon Prentice is already on record as opposing the end of the 10 per cent.
The Prime Minister has no-one but himself to blame for what Jack Straw concedes is "a problem".
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