LABOUR FIGHTS THE TAX RAID ON PENSIONERS

On Thursday, Labour forced a vote in the House of Commons on the controversial ‘Granny Tax’. Unfortunately, thanks to Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs, including the six Derbyshire Tory MPs, the amendment was defeated.

The Derbyshire Tories roll call of shame is as follows:

Patrick McLoughlin – Derbyshire Dales MP voted in favour of the ‘Granny Tax’.
Nigel Mills – Amber Valley MP voted in favour of the ‘Granny Tax’.
Jessica Lee – Erewash MP voted in favour of the ‘Granny Tax’.
Andrew Bingham – High Peak MP voted in favour of the ‘Granny Tax’.
Pauline Latham – Mid Derbyshire MP did not vote.
Heather Wheeler – South Derbyshire MP did not vote.

I voted alongside other Labour MPs against measures announced in the Budget which will see, from next April, pensioners who pay income tax losing on average £83 a year and those soon to turn 65 losing up to £323 – while 14,000 people earning over £1 million receive a tax cut.

It can’t be right that while putting up taxes for pensioners, David Cameron is giving millionaires a tax cut.

These are tough times, and the Government should be doing all it can. But David Cameron and the Tories are out of touch, making things harder not easier. The same goes for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, whose duplicity knows no bounds.

Labour would stop this raid on pensioners, and block the £40,000 tax cut for millionaires. The message is clear – only Labour will stand up for pensioners and working people in Derby.