The Times reports today that anybody who has seen Gordon Brown lose his temper does not easily forget it. The image of an angry bear springs to mind, except angry bears cannot usually get their hands on items of office equipment to fling around. The prime minister is said to be very angry at the media this weekend for creating a political storm in what he regards as a tax teacup. He is angry with the independent experts who have calculated that 5.3m families will lose out as a result of the abolition of the 10p income tax band….
It’s pointed out that the prime minister should think back to how this problem arose. It was when he was chancellor, desperate to go out on a high note from the Treasury en route to No 10 and seeking a flurry of favourable headlines. He wanted to be seen as a dynamic tax reformer by cutting the basic rate of tax to 20p, paid for by abolishing the 10p rate. Sadly for him, he did not even get the good headlines. That is where his anger should be directed.
A lesson to us all that the media do not forget quickly and all the bear grumbling in the world will not get brown out of this one.
April 21st, 2008 at 9:29 am
I came across your blog on Technorati. Nice site layout. I will stop by and read more soon.
Mike Harmon
April 21st, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Thanks Mike! Once you’ve had a better look around let us know your thoughts.