Division 506 last night covered  the 45p rate of incomes tax. A perfect time for Labour to cement their opposition to the cut after days of noise:

PROCEDURE (FUTURE TAXATION: RATES OF INCOME TAX)

Question put,

That, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the practice of the House relating to the matters that may be included in Finance Bills, any Finance Bill of the present Session may contain the following provisions about income tax taking effect in a future year—

(a) provision that for the tax year 2013-14—

(i) the basic rate is 20%,

(ii) the higher rate is 40%, and

(iii) the additional rate is 45%, and

provision about other rates of income tax.

The House divided:

Ayes 319, Noes 22.

This is despite the promise made by Ed Balls last Thursday that: “There will be a vote next week, and we will vote against the 50p change.” Instead they were whipped into abstaining. Just two Labour MPs bothered to turn up to vote.

Balls claims there was no vote.

Hansard says otherwise…