Tax breakthrough

In recent years, it has descended into little more than a shouting

match between the main party leaders. Within a minute of Gordon Brown ignoring the final question put to him yesterday, fewer than 10 MPs remained in the Chamber.

There has to be a more productive and effective way of holding a government to account than "Punch and Judy" politics.

As Tory leader David Cameron targeted the Government's National Insurance plans and "robbing" of pensions by namechecking those business leaders who are backing the Tories, this boorish exchange ignored two pertinent points – the OECD's upbeat assessment of the economy and Labour's climbdown over three taxes, including the controversial levy on holiday home owners.

At face value, this is a significant victory for the Yorkshire Post's campaign against this tax because of the damage that it will cause to the region's tourism industry.

Yet it is also at odds with Chancellor Alistair Darling's assertion that forthcoming tax rises, such as NI, are needed to help reduce the deficit. What taxpayers need is clarity from Labour over its position – and affirmation of a recent Tory commitment to scrap this levy if Mr Cameron comes to power.

The worry, from the opening two days of the election campaign, is that voters are going to get nothing more than accusation and counter- accusation.