Brown attacks EU tax plans

GORDON BROWN plunged into a bitter new tax battle with Brussels as the Government's relations with the European Union fell to a deep low.

The Chancellor, who was heading for a meeting of finance ministers, told the EU Commission to abandon its latest attempt to set Europe-wide taxes for companies.

Instead, he said the Commission should concentrate on cutting the mountain of directives and regulations that were strangling business and jobs.

Brown has been infuriated by attempts to undermine Britain's right to veto tax proposals - and by a threat to use the EU court to compel governments to accept 'a common consolidated tax base'.