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Frank Field aims for revenge
The Mole: Keeping the veteran Labour MP out of the Speaker’s chair has its consequences, says our Westminster insider
They are already calling it Field's Revenge. A group of Labour backbenchers led by rebel Frank Field are threatening to block the government's entire Budget in a fresh row over Gordon Brown's scrapping of the 10p tax rate two years ago.
Last July, Field forced Brown into a humiliating U-turn over the issue, claiming the policy was hitting the poorest in society. It was one of the most serious setbacks inflicted on the Prime Minister and severely weakened his authority. Brown did not forget and he certainly did not forgive.
So, when Field announced he wanted to run for the job of Commons Speaker when Michael Martin was forced to quit over the expenses row last month, Brown and his henchmen ensured his hopes were dashed by leading a behind-the-scenes campaign against him. It was seen as Field's punishment for daring to defy the Prime Minister. But it is Field who is likely to have the last laugh.
Speaking shortly after he stood down as a candidate for the Speakers job, he declared: "It just might be that those people who worked so hard to keep me out of the Speaker's chair, when they see the next campaign on the 10p, they might wish they'd put me in it." And he has proved true to his word.
Had Brown given his MPs the green light to back Field for the job he would have won the support of the Tories and would almost certainly be sitting in the chair today. His days rebelling against the government would be over.
Instead he is leading a second Commons revolt over the 10p rate, claiming there are still well over a million of the lowest paid who are suffering the consequences of its abolition, and demanding concessions from the government. If he does not get them, he and his allies, who include both the main opposition parties, are threatening to vote against the Finance Bill, which enacts the measures in the Budget.
If such a defeat was inflicted on Brown it would pitch the Budget measures into chaos and so undermine his authority that all the talk over his leadership would erupt once again.
So it is a pretty fair bet that at some point during the proceeding this afternoon ministers will make concessions to buy off Field. That will be embarrassing enough, but far less dangerous than the alternative. ·
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He may be vindictive with his actions against Broon now - but so are the British Voters
I like Frank Field,he is the only labour MP I know who uses common sense over the party line.That's why TB pushed him out years ago.Go Frank !
Last year Frank Field was one of those last hopes that us still affected by Gordon Brown's tax fiasco that gave in when most people affected were compensated. What a sad indictment on the quality of our politicians when about the only one that seemed to have any principles gave in then but now resurrects it in a fit of pique. Surely we should not have to rely on a situation like this. All goes to prove that they just don't care about anyone but themselves.