The 10p Question

Watching PMQs yesterday it crossed my mind – would it have been worse for Gordon Brown not to have backed down, and continued on his mad dash towards the abolition of the 10p tax rate? Or is there honour in making a U-turn, recognising that success is not a viable option, and beating a hasty retreat before any more damage is done to one’s leadership.

In this case I believe Mr. Brown made the right choice – yes, it supplied the Conservatives, and David Cameron, with plenty of ammunition for yesterday’s session, but the damage could have been significantly worse if he’d risked further fracturing his party over this issue.

Furthermore, a rebellion over the 10p tax band would arguably have affected another contentious policy issue that Labour is pushing ahead with - the extended period of detention for terror suspects. Mr. Brown already gives the impression of being an embattled Prime Minister to some, and countering that would be difficult if another row, similar to the one we have seen this week, erupts over an equally high-charged issue.

This affair is far from over, and it will be interesting to see whether Brown can move beyond this matter – questions are already emerging over the feasibility of the concessions he plans to make for those most affected by the 10p tax rate.