Manifesto? Schmanifesto...

As Labour launches it's manifesto, perhaps we should bear in mind the following :

In February 2008, when taken to court by UKIP for not allowing a referendum over the EU treaty, Brown's barrister said -

"manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation"

This morning on BBC Breakfast Time when asked by Sian Williams whether the manifesto pledges on taxes were cast iron guarantees, Ed Milliband replied -

"Absolutely"

I am also reminded of a Newsnight interview in 1997 when Brown was asked by Paxman whether, in view of the promise not to change the income tax bands, he was proposing changes to National Insurance. Brown repeated replied "We have already said we have to plans to change income tax".

He subsequently increased National Insurance.

When asked this morning about whether Labour would increase VAT, Ed Milliband repeated relied "We have no plans to extend the scope of VAT"

I think we can draw our own conclusions....