"Once these burdens are added to national insurance, which is levied at 11 per cent on earnings between £4,860 and £40,040, the total tax take is 70 per cent. "

I don't think you're including the employer's NI, but I think you should for these calculations. It is money taken in tax, for a given employee, and at a non-trivial rate. Many employees are unaware of it.

James, York,

That's just great. You start work at 15 and go on for 45 years, never on the dole. You reach your late 50's and get laid off on a very small pension. And now this - Brown cuts the 10p rate and rips off £200 pounds from me. What a guy that Brown fellow is! And we never even elected (nor wanted) _him_ as PM...

Jacques Cartier, Cambridge, UK

NOW the time is long past its sell-date.we the people,the voters must stand-up and be british.This Govermemt must be told , what do they call themselves, OH YES- i remember now,"THE NEW LABOUR PARTY"They have broken every promise from their manifesto,the confidencial information law by losing our records "IN THE POST IF YOU PLEASE"and they tell us that local councils are doing "WHAT"-YES taking over the "POST OFFICES".INFLATION rate they tell us is something in the region aprox 2.5% as a self responsible person in my working life i catered for my old age,only to be told on wednesday that my TAX RATE will increase by 100% from the 6th april 2008.old age pension,works pension yes all increases will go on you have guessed "INCOME TAX"to pay their what they call performance "BONUSES" What a joke if that is the proper expression.

william john wilson, dumfries, scotland

"You are always going to be better off in work than not in work".
Fine sentiments and I totally agree with them.

BUT. As a family who struggle following the FMD outbreak, we survive on approx £8,000 / year earned income. We receive credits and other benefits yes. I have been looking for employment for over 12 months now. At 54 employers seem reluctant to employ me, despite a degree, and broad experience etc etc.

Why so hard?

Easy - the old chestnut of "the poverty trap". - Unless I can find a job over a certain salary to jump the trap, it is NOT better to be in work - financially. Because we loose benefits that make working for £1.80 /hr the result, as my wife did. So, If I can't get a job with a salary to jump the trap and we can't realistically afford a job at penal pay rates... Well, we stay trapped. ..

There are many, many poorer people who will stay trapped unlike us, I hope! But do get a grip Brown & Darling !

Brian, Wiltshire, UK

My son in his first job since A'levels is learning the realility of there being nothing in life as certain as taxes and death. As a hard working 19 year old he has not missed the irony of a labour government effectively making him significantly poorer, reducing further his future chances of buying (or even renting) a home, and forcing him to work even harder just to stand still.

GRH, Lincolnshire, England

On retiring my income is £9900 per annum and I have calculated that I will be worse off by £132.00 per year, due to the budget. We are told that there is little or no inflation, yet petrol where I live is now at £1.16 a litre and there is no public transport, so I am forced to use a car and I cannot afford to move. I have oil heating as there is no gas in the village, this has gone up 300% in the last 5 years and so I no longer use my central heating. I am not entitled to benefits as I have some savings acquired from my gratuity when I retired and even the pittance I earn in interest has dropped due to rate cuts. The annual rises in prescription charges and TV licenses are never mentioned in the budget anymore and this doesn't include a 4% increase in my council tax and water rates, before I can eat. I do wonder what the point of working hard all my life was for and I can see nothing but a bleak cold, hungry future. This government has really sold us out.

Keith, Wisbech, England

Tax credit agency made under-payments too, These only come back to you when and if you work again.

JANE FLEMING, Whittlesey, CAMBRIDGESHIRE