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Labour hopes 50p draws attention from £175bn

By George Parker, Political Editor

Published: April 23 2009 02:32 | Last updated: April 23 2009 02:32

Alistair Darling got the headline he wanted. Within minutes of the chancellor announcing the worst economic data ever delivered from the Commons despatch box, the London Evening Standard was printing a front page headed simply: 50%.

Stirring the blood: Alistair Darling is congratulated by Gordon Brown in the Commons after delivering the Budget

The increase in the top rate of tax from next April breaks a promise in Labour’s 2005 election manifesto and smashes a central tenet of New Labour. But for Mr Darling, targeting rich voters served several purposes, aside from raising a heavily disputed amount of revenue.