Brown ally attacks Labour MP Field

By Katherine Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Schools secretary Ed Balls suggested on Monday that Labour MP Frank Field was set on bringing down Gordon Brown and was acting dishonourably in his fight to win compensation for those who lost out in tax changes.

His comments, made at a briefing designed to unite a restive Labour behind policy, could exacerbate party divisions.

Field has been leading a campaign by Labour MPs to compensate workers whose salaries have been cut by the government's abolition of the 10-pence income tax band.

Ministers have accepted they made a mistake over the tax change and admitted the issue played a part in Labour's defeat at May 1 elections for local councils and London's mayor.

Labour put in its worst performance on record while the Conservatives' polled well enough to put them on course to win a landslide in the next general election.

Balls, a staunch Gordon Brown ally, said ministers initially believed Field was acting honourably over the tax row.

But the MP's comments to BBC Radio, in which he attacked Gordon Brown's character, had changed their minds.

"I think people could look at what he was saying a few weeks ago and believe at that time that his intentions were honourable," Balls told reporters. "As for what he said this morning, I think I leave you to draw your own conclusions from that."