Bridget Fox condemns Thornberry 10p tax vote as a stab in the back for Islington's low-paid workers

1.04.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Jul 2009

Labour's tax rules hit lowest earners hardest

Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, shocked constituents by voting against a cross-party measure to compensate the low-paid workers who suffered from Gordon Brown's '10p tax' fiasco.

Islington's Liberal Democrats have called her vote a 'stab in the back' for the poorest people in the borough.

Gordon Brown removed the 10p tax band, raising £8.5 billion for the Treasury by doubling the income tax paid by the lowest earners - and plunging thousands of Islington residents further into poverty.

In Parliament this week, Liberal Democrat, Conservative, and fifteen Labour MPs including Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn, came together to try and secure justice for the victims of Gordon Brown's tax grab by forcing the Government to compensate those who lost out.

But Gordon Brown whipped Labour MPs to vote against this, and local Labour MP Emily Thornberry sided with the Prime Minister against low-paid Islington residents.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Islington South and Finsbury Bridget Fox slammed her Labour counterpart. She said:

"I am absolutely furious that Emily Thornberry could vote like this. I've met so many local people on low wages who have lost up to £120 a year, thanks to Gordon Brown's tax grab. It is absolutely unfair to hit low earners like this.

"In last week's vote, Emily Thornberry had a chance to stand up for local people, and instead she sided with Gordon Brown once again.

"It's hypocritical for Labour MPs like Ms. Thornberry to boast about their concern for the poorest in society and then stab them in the back like this. Whatever she may claim - Emily Thornberry is not on your side."

Related Links:

BBC: Government defeats 10p tax rebels .

10p tax debate (TheyWorkForYou.com).