Unlike many Johnny-come-lately Labour MPs, they did point out the consequences when Mr Brown unveiled this "con trick" in March 2007. As a consequence, they will inevitably make significant headway at next week's town hall elections.

However, they would be ill-advised to assume that any likely increase
in support will translate to real
votes at the next General Election, when David Cameron hopes to
win power.

There is one very obvious reason for this. Those people who would have lost out financially live in urban constituencies where the election of a Labour candidate is an inevitability. Even a stuffed parrot wearing a red rose would win some Yorkshire seats. If disillusioned voters switch to another party, it would not make a
jot of difference.

There is another factor that Brown probably entered into his original calculations. The "losers" would be individuals who were unlikely to vote – in contrast to the elderly whose interests were protected by his changes. He was willing to sacrifice political principles for electoral sanctuary.

This probably explains why the Prime Minister seemed so unperturbed when the tax furore
was in its infancy, even though his
trip to the United States was overshadowed by the non-resignation of Sheffield MP Angela Smith
who, apparently, is an aide to a Treasury Minister.

If the likes of Ms Smith and her cohorts are so concerned about the needs of their voters, they would have resigned on the spot – or possessed the foresight to point out the consequences when Brown originally unveiled his tax blueprint.

Ms Smith's failure to do so can probably be explained by her previous incarnation as Sheffield Council's cabinet member for education from 2002-05.

Her website profile declares: "Under her leadership, Sheffield became regarded as one of the leading educational authorities in the country, piloting many government initiatives."

In other words, Ms Smith is a career politician who only follows orders – just like so many of her equally ineffectual brethren.



IF Gordon Brown wants an escape route from his political difficulties,
he could always start to blame
his predecessor.

I offer this advice after a bizarre conversation with an articulate newsagent during a recent foray to the Austrian Tyrol.

"Where are you from?" he asked pleasantly.

"Yorkshire, England," I replied as I picked up a newspaper which, on the front cover, had a picture of the Prime Minister meeting George W Bush.

"Good for you. We really admire your premier," he said.

"Really," I replied. "Perhaps you should write to 10 Downing Street to tell him. Gordon Brown will appreciate any support."

"Oh, Gordon who?" he said. "No, no, no. Tony Blair, I mean. He's still your leader, isn't he?"

When I pointed out that Blair had resigned 10 months ago, largely at Brown's behest, the news vendor looked at me with sadness in his eyes.

"Oh, Blair's still always in the news. And we like him. He can communicate. And he's so busy. A man of the world."

An odd exchange – but one which encapsulated Brown's difficulties
in many ways. His speeches, responses to questions and policy pronouncements are too convoluted, so people switch off.

He needs to find that elusive common touch – without, however, promising what he cannot deliver. Just being straight-forward over 10p tax would be a good start.



YOU couldn't make this up. Which bank is refusing to pass on the Bank of England interest rate cuts to mortgage customers – despite the Government making £50bn available this week to shore up the mortgage market?

Yes, you've guessed it. Northern Rock. And its owners? The very same Government which is seeking to protect the interests of consumers.

What a shambles. Can't Labour get anything right?

It can't be long before Gordon Brown and Co will be calling for a vote of confidence from Tony Blair.



TALKING of Mr Brown. Those who tell me that the Prime Minister must be replaced immediately need to answer this question in the first instance.

By whom?



I HAD the privilege to speak to Gwyneth Dunwoody shortly before this highly respected politician
passed away.

As the long-standing, and fiercely independent, chairman – she despised the politically-correct term "chair" – of Parliament's Transport Select Committee, I had asked whether she would write an article
for this newspaper on how she
would reform Yorkshire's creaking railway network.

Straight to the point, Mrs Dunwoody claimed modestly that she did not have the requisite knowledge about this region's specific difficulties and issues.

She politely declined the opportunity, saying: "Politicians should only speak when they have full knowledge of the facts. When I've had a chance to research Yorkshire's issues, I'll come back to you."

Sadly, that call will now never come. But I shall never forget Mrs Dunwoody's refreshing candour and honesty. Or the last point that she made; namely that Britain's railways will not improve until the infrastructure is upgraded so that more trains can run.

It's simple really.



IT didn't take me long to identify all those swimmers whom I unexpectedly came across at the
health club pool on Thursday afternoon – striking teachers.

A pity that they weren't either in class, or having the courage to man the picket lines.



HOW'S this for upper-class hypocrisy? Tory former minister Baroness Trumpington says that changes to the entrance of Parliament Square must not stop taxis from bringing MPs and peers to work
at Westminster.

Why don't they use public transport for a change – and then they might just understand the daily difficulties incurred by mere mortals?