Labour's mess over rubbish taxes

Thursday 25th October

There was confusion today over Labour's planned bin taxes, as a Government report backed the taxes less than 24 hours after Downing Street had moved to delay any announcement on the issue.

On Wednesday, the Government intervened to delay the publication of a Ministerial statement pledging to go ahead with the new rubbish taxes.

But today, the Department for Communities and Local Government praised the proposed taxes, saying they would "encourage behaviour change" and have a "positive impact".

Eric Pickles MP, who has been leading the Conservative campaign against the taxes, said:

"Chaos and confusion reigns across an increasingly discredited Government. Less than 24 hours after putting the bin tax announcement on hold, another part of Whitehall is backing these plans for new taxes on family homes."

And he accused Mr. Brown of losing control of the Whitehall machine, saying the Prime Minister had all the stability of a "wobbling jelly."