Leaked emails reveal Labour ‘screwed up’ on Budget tax vote

Embarrassed Labour chiefs have admitted they ”screwed up” when they failed to back an SNP vote against a tax cut for the country’s highest earners.

Labour abstained on a Westminster vote on the tax cut, so only the Nationalists and Plaid Cymru were in the chamber to vote against a cut in the 50p rate.

It meant the Coalition Government won the vote on the 45p rate by 319 to 22 a majority of 297.

And a string of leaked emails has revealed how top Labour spin doctors tried to cover up the blunder.

The party’s Scottish office is told to keep quiet ”in the hope that it is ignored”.

Eventually they agree: ”Line is: we voted against whole Budget package, which obviously includes 50p, and we will seek to amend and vote on the Finance Bill on 50p, plus other issues of concern.”