This is a copy of a letter I recently sent to one of many constituents who are suffering from Gordon Brown’s Tax Credit system:
“The Tax Credit system is a nightmare. It was created by Gordon Brown with the intention of helping a range of individuals but in many cases the effect has been the opposite. If you give someone £3,000, they are quite grateful. If later you demand £2,000 back, this can cause real distress and suffering.
You are absolutely right that the system is far too complicated and no ordinary mortal can be expected to understand all the details. I have half a dozen files sitting on my desk of constituents, all of whom have been caused great difficulty and distress.
I have raised this issue many times in the House of Commons and I am proposing now to have a special debate on the problems caused to my constituents by the Tax Credit system. If you agree, I will use your case as one example without, of course, mentioning your name or giving information which would enable you to be traced.
As to the detail of your case, there is no other action that I, as a Member of Parliament, can properly take. The Ombudsman has refused to intervene in this case and there must be many thousands of cases where the taxpayer is left without redress. I can only promise that I will try to express the anger and frustration of you and many others who have been exposed to such a horrendous mess by the over-fertile brain of our present Prime Minister.
I am really sorry that I cannot be more helpful in this particular case. I have had many constituents in tears because of the problems of the Tax Credit system. I will try to express their frustration at the system but it is not open to an individual Member of Parliament to put right the problems in each individual case.”
8 November 07 |
