Biggest tax cuts for top earners

THE highest earners have had the biggest tax cuts since the Conservatives came to power in 1979, it was confirmed last night. Figures from the Treasury were released to Frank Field, the Labour MP and chairman of the cross-party Commons Select Committee on Social Security, writes Colin Brown.

About 140,000 people who earn more than pounds 80,000 a year pay an average of pounds 45,500 per year less in tax than they would have done in 1978-79. This compared with pounds 140 per year less for 3.2 million earning less than pounds 5,000, according to the figures.