[shillelagh]

Here is the press release that went from Greg's office to the accrington observer:

Greg’s Commons motion urges Government u-turn on abolition of the 10p tax band – changes are hurting Hyndburn says MP

Hyndburn’s MP has tabled a Commons motion urging the Government to think again on the abolition of the 10p tax rate which comes into effect this week. Greg said:

“I have been corresponding with Ministers about this for quite a while, I’ve tabled Parliamentary Questions, I’ve written letters and I’ve seen the Minister but to no avail. The Government thought when they announced the abolition of the 10p tax rate last year that no-one would be made worse off as they thought everyone would be entitled to either Pension Credits or Working Tax Credits, but they were wrong.

“It’s clear to me that quite a lot of people with modest incomes in East Lancashire and across the UK will find themselves worse off this week because someone in the Treasury got their sums wrong. I’ve been trying to tell ministers this for ages but no-one seems to be listening so I’ve now tabled a Commons motion backed by other normally loyal Labour MPs frustrated by the Government’s inaction. This was raised at a private meeting of Labour MPs with the Prime Minister earlier in the week and I hope that this motion will now focus ministers’ minds on the problem.”

The motion reads:

Abolition of the 10p Tax Rate

That this House notes that, despite assurances to the contrary, many people are being made worse off by the abolition of the 10p tax rate; notes with concern this is having a disproportionate impact on people who can ill afford to be made worse off; accepts that this was not the intention of Her Majesty’s Government but is dismayed at the response to the plight of those adversely affected; and calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to bring forward measures to correct this damaging change to the taxation system