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Brown scrambles Cabinet to campaign for votes in deperate bid to avoid defeat over 10p tax
Last updated at 02:52am on 23.04.08Labour's entire Cabinet was today scrambled to rescue Gordon Brown in the 10p tax revolt.
As rebels revealed they have enough names to inflict a bloody Commons defeat, Chief Whip Geoff Hoon ordered every senior minister to help scrape votes together.
Mr Hoon briefed this morning's weekly Cabinet meeting on the deadly arithmetic for next Monday's vote.
"The message from the Chief Whip was that all members of the Cabinet should explain to those who have concerns what the Government's position is, said Downing Street.
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All hands on deck: Senior ministers such as Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Justice Secretary Jack Straw are among those who have been told by chief whip Geoff Hoon they must turn up to vote with the Government next week
Operation Save Gordon began rolling this afternoon when Chancellor Alistair Darling and Treasury Chief Secretary Yvette Cooper called in the first group of backbenchers protesting about Mr Brown's decision to abolish the ultra-low 10p starting rate of tax, a move which experts claim has made 5.3million poor households worse off.
Treasury sources ruled out any cash to compensate those losing out by up to £4 a week. "The Chancellor hasn't any money," said a senior source. "There is no secret stash up his sleeve."
Rebel ringleader Frank Field, the former welfare reform minister, refused to believe it. He said there was £1 billion in unclaimed tax credits that could be used - enough to repay in full the average loss of £2 a week.
It set the stage for a week of tension and frantic arm-twisting by the whips before next week's showdown.
Mr Brown raised the stakes last night when, during a personal appeal to backbenchers, he told they must not defeat the Government's Budget.
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Threat: Gordon Brown faces a major rebellion from Labour MPs over the abolition of the 10p tax band
He told them that rebellion on the issue next week would have catastrophic consequences for his leadership.
And in a startling expression of humility from a politician known as the "Big Clunking Fist", the Prime Minister urged: "Please don't bring down a Labour Government Finance Bill."
That effectively turned it into a confidence issue, where defeat would probably force a confidence vote in the entire Government and, ultimately, in Mr Brown.
One rebel, Gordon Prentice, warned: "The fact is that if the Budget goes down, if this key clause goes down, then I don't think the Government can survive."
Mr Field unveiled a list of 39 names of MPs backing an amendment to the Finance Bill calling for immediate compensation - easily enough to overturn Labour's majority of 67.
They included ex-whip Greg Pope, former ministers George Howarth and Gisela Stuart and several junior Brownites. Government sources were confident that some would soon drop out but Mr Field said he thought there were more potential rebels in the wings.
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In a key development, the Treasury committee this afternoon announced a surprise inquiry into the impact of the abolition of the 10p rate and other Budget decisions on low-income households. The cross-party inquiry could be used by ministers to float possible compromises later.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said the 10p row was only a small part of today's Cabinet, which was mainly focused on the economy.
There was some good news for the PM as a Guardian/ICM poll carried out over the weekend found support for Labour at 34 per cent, five points up on a poll last month.
Meanwhile, Conservative support was down three points to 39 per cent and Liberal Democrats down two points to 19 per cent.
• His efforts to win over his critics at home may have left a little to be desired. But Gordon Brown made at least one firm new friend yesterday.
He telephoned the pop singer Shakira to chat about education in the third world.
The Colombian star, whose hits include Underneath Your Clothes, is the honorary chairman of the Global Campaign for Education's action week. And Mr Brown's new smilier persona was a big hit with her.
"I think he's a man with wonderful intentions," Shakira said later.
"Not all leaders are focusing on this as they should and he is one who is.
"I applaud his work, and I applaud the fact that he is brave enough to talk to celebrities like me."
Reader views (15)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
What - Mr. Bean Brown scrambling surely not?!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
The man who gave away the U.K. qua country. That's the way that GB will be remembered -- with extreme hatred once the British people see the true long-term effects of this silly man's actions. The new E.U. country will come into effect (barring a miracle) at the end of this year, and taxation will be one of the areas that the new central government will be eyeing. Very soon, issues such as Westminster raising or lowering taxes will be historical. Brussels will be raising or lowering the taxes that apply in the U.K. and the other provinces, and all the yelping in the world to Westminster isn't going to make a bit of difference. So much furore now over a few percentage points of taxation, while the far far bigger issue (the right of the U.K. to control its own destiny, including tax rates) went by last month when the Lisbon Treaty Bill was shoved down Brits' throats (with the assistance of Mr Clegg).
- Phil Jones, London UK
Brown, you are a wicked and selfish man. You and your fellow evil doers always plotting to save your own skins and never spare a thought for the poor man on the street....time woe betide you!
- God, Heaven
Goodbye Mr Bean.
- Eva, St Albans
Ahh the socialist dream- take as much as possible in tax away from you, then make you apply for "credits" to have a refund of your own money that you earned in the first place, make it as difficult as possible and if you do actually claim send a stasi from the revenue around to scare you off- brilliant!
- John G, London - which is a massive
This item in the bill goes against Labours principles.
I personally do not agree with their principles. However I applaud those MPs who are about to vote on their conscience and base beliefs despite the possibility of a general election.
- Simon Carter, Maidstone Kent
The one-eyed reptile is on his last legs.
- Neil, london uk
Goodbye and good riddance Gordon Brown, you have single handedly bought this country to its knees. You have made the poor poorer and the rich richer. I m sure there's a knighthood waiting for you when you leave, the sooner the better, and you haven't even been elected as a prime minister.
- Kuldip, London, UK
Bye, Gordon.
- John, Bedford
Brown, you're fired!
- Tom, St. Albans
"Back me or Sack me!" You don't threaten from a weak position. A P45 is already in the mail, and Young Miliband is getting braver.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Oh God please sack him and have someone who really wants to help the average person take his place. Oh forgot, Nu Labour=old Tory. Shame.
- S-M Hearmon, London, UK
Your figures are wrong, people working less than 30 hours a week, not 16, don't qualify for working tax credit. If you can't get it right is it any wonder that this feeble government don't know what they're doing!
- Glyn, Hereford
The lunatics are in charge of the asylum.
- Robert Sprent, London
A promised bung just before local elections? Isn't that called Gerrymandering? Funny, I thought that was illegal. Mind you, that hasn't stood in the way of NuLabour's election tactics in the past, has it?
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
