Last updated 15:53, Wednesday, 30 April 2008

COPELAND MP Jamie Reed has welcomed government concessions for those people affected by the abolition of the 10p tax rate but has called on the government to go even further.

"I have lobbied the Prime Minister and Chancellor over this issue; not just recently but for over some time now and I am extremely pleased that they have listened to our concerns and acted upon them.

He added: But I want the government to do even more. I would like government to explore the possibility of taking the lowest earners out of the taxation system altogether. Raising personal allowances before taxation is another possibility, but this would not be targeted upon the poorest paid and so would be unlikely to have the same effect.

He said The Finance Bill which contains these tax changes also contains measures which will benefit most people in Copeland.

Tory candidate for Copeland Chris Whiteside said:

“Many people used to vote for the Labour party because they trusted Labour to stand up for the poor, the deprived, and the working man. Now those people have every reason to feel betrayed,” said Coun Whiteside.

“I favour fair tax cuts for everyone, paid for by sharing the proceeds of growth,” he said, “but not by raising taxes on the poor to pay for tax cuts for the better off.”