Signs of spines

David Anderson, Jeff Ennis, Celia Barlow and David Kidney may be showing signs of growing a backbone, even the BBC have to report that:

"Four more ministerial aides have joined protests at the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

The four junior government members have called on Gordon Brown to help 5.3 million low-paid workers who have lost out as a result of the changes....

The four parliamentary private secretaries to have called for more help for those affected by the reforms on the 10p band are David Anderson, Jeff Ennis, Celia Barlow and David Kidney. None has threatened to resign over the issue.

Mr Ennis, aide to Cabinet Office minister Ed Miliband, told the Evening Standard: "The die is cast on the 10p rate but we have to listen to what people tell us and in future redress the balance."

Mr Anderson, aide to higher education minister Bill Rammell, told the Standard: "We should not be making poor people poorer and at the same time giving people extra money through inheritance tax."

But he said he would not threaten to resign over the issue.

Celia Barlow, aide to science minister Ian Pearson, said in a statement she was not planning to resign her position.

But she added: "I have, however, written to the prime minister and the Chancellor to express my concern over the effects that the abolition of the 10p tax rate will have on some of my constituents.

"I have also forwarded them copies of constituents' letters and e-mails that I have received detailing the effects of the abolition."

Mr Kidney, aide to junior transport minister Rosie Winterton, has also written to the prime minister about the abolition of the lowest tax band.

He said it was his job as a constituency MP to raise matters of concern with ministers."

I wonder what Gordon Brown will have to promise them to get them to back off?