MP'S ANGER AT TAX ATTACK BY BROWN ON OUR SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Apr 2008

Troops boarding plane in Afghanistan

Colchester MP Bob Russell has today condemned Prime Minister Gordon Brown MP for his "appalling tax demand" a week after soldiers from the Colchester Garrison left for Afghanistan.

Up to 66,000 Armed Forces personnel will be worse off from this week as a result of the abolition of the 10p Income Tax rate, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

Members of the Armed Forces from the rank of Private up to level 3, who have a starting salary of just £14,349, will be up to £90 a year worse off because of the change.

In total, up to a third of all Armed Forces personnel could find themselves paying more tax as a result of the Labour Government's tax changes.

Mr Russell, a member of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Defence team, said: "This is a shabby deal from Ministers who appear to care little about those who put their lives on the line for Britain.

"How can we be asking our hard-pressed Military personnel to pay more in tax when we pay them so little in the first place? This is an appalling tax demand."

Mr Russell added: "This is a disgraceful way to reward our Armed Forces for serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq at this Government's behest.

"Once again, Prime Minister Brown and Chancellor Darling have shown that what they give with one hand they take away with the other."