Labour red faced over e-mails leak

LABOUR was last night left embarrassed after a leaked exchange of e-mails revealed that its MPs “screwed up” on a vote over the government’s decision to reduce the 50p tax rate for those earning £150,000 or more.

Despite making it their top item to attack in the Budget, Labour abstained on an vote the SNP called opposing the measure.

A series of e-mail exchanges by Labour staff which were leaked then showed that they believed they had “screwed up” and suggested that they should “hold off” on a release on it for Scotland “in the hope that it is ignored”.

SNP Westminster Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said: “Last week Ed Balls promised Labour would vote against the cut in the top rate of tax, last night they abstained.”