Income tax cut?

An article in today’s People claims Gordon Brown will cut income tax by 2p when he becomes Prime Minister.

The article says Brown would reduce income tax within 12 months of becoming PM. It’s certainly a good platform to go into an election on and is sure to still the thunder away from the Conservatives and Lib Dems. To maximise the benefit of this an October 2007 General Election would be ideal.

The tax cut would be funded by putting an extra 1p on fuel and an extra £5 on air passenger tax. Sounds very much like the Lib Dems Green Tax Switch.

If this article is correct, the days of opposition parties attacking Brown as the big tax riser will be gone, as he will no doubt claim he is returning the benefits of those rises to the people.

Wednesday’s Pre-Budget report will be studied hard looking for clues as to Brown’s intentions.

Blair went into the 1997 election promising to freeze income tax levels. Brown may well go into the next election promising to reduce them!