Brown convinces PPS not to resign
Prime minister Gordon Brown has convinced a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the Treasury not to resign.
The BBC reported last night that Angela Smith had told colleagues that she planned on resigning from her position in protest at the abolition of the 10p tax rate. Ms Smith is the PPS to Yvette Cooper, the chief secretary to the Treasury.
However there was no official confirmation from the Labour MP and she later released a statement saying she would be remaining in her position but had “concerns” over the tax changes.
“It has been reported by various sources that I am about to resign from my post as parliamentary private secretary to Yvette Cooper,” she said.
“It is true I have concerns over tax changes and these have been discussed with senior government figures.
“I am reassured that my concerns are understood and that the government remains committed to its anti-poverty agenda. Resignation of my post is therefore not envisaged.”
A Downing Street spokesman confirmed that Ms Smith had contacted the prime minister during his trip to the US to tell him she was not resigning.
The Conservatives described the situation as “astonishing”.
Shadow chancellor George Osborne said: “The astonishing news that a member of the government and aide to a Treasury minister can publicly threaten to resign over Gordon Brown’s tax policy and yet remain in the government is evidence of how his authority is disintegrating.”
Mr Brown has come under considerable pressure recently from Labour MPs regarding the abolition of 10p tax rate, with critics claiming the move will hit people on lower incomes most.
Schools secretary and ally to the prime minister, Ed Balls, defended Mr Brown in an interview with the Times newspaper, telling Labour critics to stop their “indulgent nonsense”.
In reference to the upcoming local elections on May 1st, Mr Balls said party members should be working on campaigning instead of complaining.
“The efforts of local councillors and shadow leaders should not be undermined by this kind of indulgent nonsense,” he said.
“Rather than cause difficulties for the party, Labour will feel that these people should get out on the campaign trail and start fighting the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.”
He added that Mr Brown knew “how to handle difficult times”.
