Labour should pledge not to raise VAT

A promise not to raise this regressive tax would hand Brown one of the "dividing lines" he craves.

As well as being the day that Gordon Brown finally announced that an election would be held on 6 May (he accurately described it as “the least well-kept secret of recent years”) today is also the day that the new 50p tax rate comes into force.

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George Eaton

@georgeeaton

George Eaton is the New Statesman's senior editor (politics). He writes the Morning Call political briefing three times a week and contributes columns, features, interviews and leaders.