I often seem to find myself disagreeing with my esteemed colleagues here on Scribo.  It’s not something I am usually concerned about, but today I am almost incredulous at Vamp’s assessment on the subject of “Brown Caves“.

Unlike most {all, in the case of the right} I see a deviation from the former stubborness of the Labour Party to be a positve thing.

I find Brown’s latest troubles anything but a sign of an end to stubbornness: in fact, little he has done has been more stubborn.  Let’s chart events:

Gordon Brown’s final Budget includes measures that hit the poorest group of workers in the country.

Gordon Brown claims the Budget is tax-cutting.

MPs finally read the Budget and realise that the poorest people are being hit by the change.

Gordon Brown denies anyone will be financially harmed by the Budget.

Rebellion stirs among the backbenchers.

Gordon Brown tells lobby journalists that the rebellion is tiny and not an issue.

Rebellion grows.

Gordon Brown forced to break from engagements in the White House to persuade spineless PPS not to resign.

Gordon Brown still claims the rebellion is insubstantial.

Frank Field reveals the scope of the rebellion: more than enough for a government defeat.

Gordon Brown dithers for a week.

Minutes before PMQs on Wednesday, Gordon Brown reveals plans to “compensate” those who have lost out as a direct result of his budget.

David Cameron mocks him for U-turning.

It becomes clear that the U-turn was a mere sleight of hand: the “compensation” has helped nobody very much.

Gordon Brown pretends all is well with the world.

Tories get 18-point lead in Telegraph poll.

If that is not a record of stubbornness, I will emigrate when I see one.  I also disagree with Vamp’s suggestion that the opposition “were apparently jubiliant yesterday but they were denied the grand scalp of a Commons defeat”.  These events play directly into the Tories’ greatest attack - Brown is a ditherer who is completely out of touch with reality.  Brown is fooling nobody: probably not even himself.  This is far, far more valuable than a commons defeat.

For those of you who are fooled by Brown, consider the sham of a compensation package he laid out yesterday.  Direct financial reimbursement for the employed will occur through an inflation-busting rise in the minimum wage - paid for by employers.  Other minor payouts will occur, but only the Winter Fuel Allowance will be backdated to this Spring.  Forgive my cynicism, but what exactly does backdating Winter payments from Autumn to Spring entail?  Precisely nothing.

Let’s not forget that this is a tax increase, not a surcharge on being poor.  When those hit by it are not properly reimbursed and those who are receive compensation only through their employers, the state is onto a winner.  Even if every person affected by the change came out of the compensation process with as much money as they had before, the government would still have made a profit! What an absolute scandal!

The truth is more startling still.  The government has pulled a profit from screwing over some of the lowest-paid workers in the country, and has saved its skin by screwing over their employers.  This, I fear, is the kind of disgusting stunt befitting a government that has been hanging out to dry for far too long.  If Vamp thinks this is an acceptable way to cling to power, I worry greatly about the long-term future of this country.

No government, however desperate, should ever resort to such dirty tactics as these.  It’s intolerably shameful.  It is a matter of great regret that there is not a shred of evidence to suggest that the alternatives would behave any differently.