Labour U-Turn as Tories Take 18 Point Lead

Two bits of big news.

The government has taken a U-turn on the 10p tax rate as pressure mounted from backbench Labour MPs. Darling announced measures to compensate those hit worst by the abolition of the 10% rate on Wednesday, although he didn't mention anything specific. Labour MPs were informed by flyers handed out just before Prime Minister's Questions, presumabley to stop backbenchers from asking embarrassing questions of Gordon Brown in the chamber.

In today's Telegraph, the Conservatives are shown to have extended their lead over Labour to 18 percentage points. The Tories are polled on 44%, with Labour on 26 and the Lib Dems on 17. You'll notice that the sum of Labour and Lib Dem support is now lower than that of the Conservatives, giving them the majority of the popular vote of the three main parties. If repeated in a general election, the Conservatives would win a landslide majority of 154 seats.

The English and Welsh local elections take place on Thursday 1 May. Remember to get out and vote, whoever you are voting for.

JR