Brown's spend, spend, spend during his Chancellor's days has brought us into the current economy we are facing today. His appeal at a Downing Street meeting for the lenders to pass on cuts appeared to fall on deaf ears with HBOS, which owns the Halifax, increasing its rate on some mortgages from 6.09 to 6.59 per cent. Borrowers taking out this type of deal will now pay 46 more a month. On a two-year tracker, the rate will increase from 1.49 points above base rate to 1.99 points, giving a current rate of 6.99 per cent.

Other lenders are expected to follow Halifaxs lead.

If the Government wants the banks to lower mortgage rates to home owners - why not just offer them through Northern Rock? Everyone would rush to the Rock to get the loans forcing banks to match the rates or lose the business? Or maybe the government would then run into bigger credit crunch?

looks like more rebels opposing Governments decision to abolish the 10% tax band. According to Sky news, Alister Darling, is looking at ways to effectively back track. Given Brown's insistance yesterday that the band will remain,should there be a back track, no matter how it is dressed up, I would have thought it would make Brown's position untenable. I expect the band will be abolished but some other concession introduced enabling Brown to save face, only in his opinion though.

Petrol up every day and more taxes to come why do people bother.

There is no doubt Gordon Brown will be elected out of the next election. He can't blame on anybody but himself.

he will though......he is so arrogant

Don't kow of any politicians not arrogant, they are always right , never answer a question with a straight yes or no and never apologise.

I despise him and his kind as traitors to the working class I just hope he willget sacked and the rest of them.

Gordon Brown has had it and he will hold on to power for as long as he can.....frankly labour have made a complete mess of their time in power....their only solution to anything when they make a shambles is to tax everybody more....now he abolishes the 10p tax rate, even accountants who never really get involved in politics have had enough of him....the good thing is that I think there could be a vote of no confidence in him and if successful...it could trigger an early general election !, this is by far the worst government in my lifetime !.

Can' you remember Heath, Callaghan,Foot, Major, etc......once they get their noses in the trough the promises of a new dawn fly out of the window.

Since elected Brown has been selling the national wealth in order to finance his spending plans. Remember the massive sales of gold at prices less than a third of the gold price today? Now his chickens are coming home to roost since he has no more paintings and furniture to sell. Britain's gold reserves are now amongst the lowest of the major economies
Remember also the old saying - what goes around, comes around? He spent half his time undercutting Blair, so why should anyone, apart from his cronies, show any loyalty to him? And least of all the people?

Couldn't resist this - from today's Sunday Times:

I agree with earlier posts, this Government after the first year or so in office went back to there old tax and spend ways, storing up terrible problems yet again. Why don't they ever learn. The sad thing is what alternatives are there, are there any MPs left with a good business background, I don't think so.

I can't resist it, so here goes.......

Bring back Maggie..........

No Maggie was rubbish she closed the coal mines and hey guess what she was wrong as the oil price proves today.

"now he abolishes the 10p tax rate"
And he was the one who introduced it to help the low paid! The low paid are now asking who is he helping now....in large numbers it seems hence the upsurge in the objectors in his own party. He will have to sweeten the pill but GB will be unlikely to back down completely. It would show a weakness, can't have that!

I bet Livingstone is spitting blood. Athough this furore is nothing to do with him, it must reflect badly at the polls on May 1st.

anybody noticed the strike at Grangemouth and the fact that Scotland and northern England will have no fuel by the end of the week?. This is the UNITE union , a died in the wool LABOUR UNION and supporter of Gordon.

says it all to me

Nigel Lawson was right ---taxes should be fair and collectible. In Times today he gives an interview about his new book rubbishing the claims and actions on climate change--he had trouble getting it printed apparently but US printers agreed. It sounds worth a read as even the interviewer who was ready to dislike him---found he agreed with the points he made. Switching to biofuels saves very little energy and causes international food shortages---then big trouble!! etc. Interesting that he now lives in France so he seems to have given up on the UK.
Stephen Dorrell who was in the last Con government commented on losing to Labour---that the country had forgotten what dire results came from Labour tax and spend a period of Labour would soon remind them!
I think we've been reminded enough--bring on the election.

And the deputy PM John Presecott has said he ate too many pies and cream cakes before throwing up in disgust.

Niel Lawson seems like a regular guy.

also HMRC are going to fine you now if you make a mistake on tax form.....they expect to raise another 1 billion........unbelievable.

HMRC msake mistakes but guess what happens. Yes, nothing.....they are arrogant too.

ps@ labour has always made a mess when in government....most are uneducated mainly and so lack intelligence let alone anything else

The Labour party have had 10 years to screw the Country now its the Tories turn.

The Tories must be hoping GB can cling onto the leadership until the Election