I WOULD like to support the letter from Mr B Gee concerning Gordon Brown's income tax con, due to take effect next April: the discontinuation of the ten per cent starting rate and the reduction from 22 per cent to 20 per cent overall (Calculating con, April 11).

I would like to state briefly how this will affect anyone on the figure of £10,000 per annum using approximate calculations.

Old system: personal earnings £10,000 per annum; tax-free allowance, £7,000, leaving £3,000. First £2,000 at ten per cent equals £200, then £1,000 at 22 per cent equals £220. Total tax liability - £420.

New system: personal earnings £10,000 per annum; tax-free allowance £7,000, leaving £3,000 at 20 per cent, equals £600 total tax liability - a difference of £180 per annum worse off.

Methinks sneaky Prudence has got his sticky little fingers into the back pockets of millions of low-income earners.

Bad move Browny, reckon the serfs won't forget this next time round at the ballot box.

By the way, the name's the same, but thankfully no relation.

B Brown, Roman Avenue North, Stamford Bridge, York.