Promise of jam tomorrow is not enough - As Labour's Ipswich campaign falters

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 27th Apr 2008

Liberal Democrats in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich have attacked Government offers to compensate low income earners losing out under tax changes as "vague promises of jam tomorrow".

The doubling of the 10p income tax starter rate was announced last year but was put into operation at the start of April after Labour MPs voted for it in March. Since then, Labour MPs have suffered a backlash from low income people whose tax rates were doubled by Gordon Brown.

"Thousands of residents of Ipswich have been hit hard by Labour's decision to double the 10p income tax starter rate," said Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne. "Labour MPs, having only just voted to put this tax rise into operation, suddenly started shouting about how terrible it was."

Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne who was recently campaigning with local Liberal Democrats in Whitehouse Ward for the Ipswich Borough Council elections added "It is disappointing that they have caved in and agreed to back the Government's last minute offer of vague promises of compensation. All that is on offer is jam tomorrow. There are no details of how the compensation scheme will work.

And as is so often the case with this government, we should believe it when it happens. In the meantime, those on low incomes in Ipswich continue to lose out whilst Gordon Brown's tax rises bite into pay packets and pensions.

It is staggering that in the same week as vague concessions for some of the lowest paid people in the country were dragged out of the Government, Gordon Brown's door to Downing Street was wide open for bankers to visit him and successfully argue for £50 billion bailout from the taxpayer to keep the banking system afloat.

There is something seriously wrong when a Labour Government turns its back on ordinary people, and it is obvious to me that Labour are in for a difficult time on May 1st with many traditional Labour voters switching to the Liberal Democrats across Ipswich - ultimately turning their backs on a government that has let them down," concluded Andrew.