(UK) Budget 2012: Nick Clegg faces Lib Dem fury over tax boost for rich

Source: The Observer

Nick Clegg faces a growing mutiny within his own party before this week's budget as Liberal Democrat MPs, peers and grassroots activists accuse him of caving in to the Tories and failing to stand up for low earners.

The Lib Dem leader is struggling to maintain discipline after it emerged that the chancellor, George Osborne, is poised to announce a cut in the 50p rate of income tax for higher earners – without meeting the Lib Dems' key demand for a "mansion tax" or other property tax on the wealthy in return.

Clegg was warned that restive Lib Dem MPs might vote against the budget after the Treasury also suggested Osborne could announce radical plans to bring in lower salaries for public sector workers in poorer parts of the country.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/17/budget-2012-nick-clegg