IN 2007, in his last budget as Chancellor, Gordon Brown announced that basic rate tax would be reduced to 20 per cent.

When the change came into effect the following year, it became apparent that the tax cut had been financed by abolishing the 10 per cent starting rate of tax.

It was at this point, months before recession struck, that Gordon Brown lost the election.

His budget was seen as unfair; the tax cut for middle and higher earners had been financed by increasing the tax burden on the poorest.

In 2012, George Osborne, in what I profoundly hope proves to be his last budget, has announced a tax cut for the highest earners, with income in excess of £150,000. This has been financed by the imposition of austerity on everyone else.

I cannot help thinking that Mr Osborne has just done for the Conservative party what Gordon Brown did for Labour.

CHRIS ROBINS (cllr), Foxdown Close, Kidlington