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28 November 2010
Last updated at 12:57 ET
Shadow chancellor Alan Johnson has said his "priority" would be to cut taxes for low earners.
Mr Johnson told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he would like to reduce taxes and played down suggestions he was at odds with Ed Miliband over tax policy.
He said there was no disagreement between him and the Labour leader over the 50p top rate of income tax.
The Conservatives maintained that the Labour leadership was split on a key element of economic policy.
'Key plank'
Mr Miliband has said he wants to keep the 50p top rate of income tax permanently, while Mr Johnson has said it could eventually go.
But Mr Johnson told the BBC: "What me and Ed agree on is that we need a 50p tax rate now, we will need it at the next general election, but we will look at it closer to the time.
"I would like to reduce taxes. The priority would be to reduce taxes for people on lower incomes."
Conservative Party deputy chairman Michael Fallon said Mr Johnson's comments showed that Labour remained split on a key plank of economic policy.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
"Once again we have the extraordinary and damaging spectacle of the leader of the opposition and his shadow chancellor at loggerheads," he said.
'Demonstrating steel'
Mr Johnson, who backed recently announced moves to overhaul Labour's leadership election process, also said he wanted to retain links with the trade unions, whose backing in the electoral college system was essential in Mr Miliband's victory over brother David.
"I'm not for breaking the link with the trade unions.
"I think it's really important and very strong, but I am for a system that means one-member-one-vote, within an electoral college system," he said.
Following Mr Miliband's launch on Saturday of a full-scale policy review, Mr Johnson added it was important that the party consulted as widely as possible.
"If we are going to have a proper policy analysis, we can't just do it in the closed world of the Labour movement - we have to open it up," he said.
And he dismissed claims that Mr Miliband had struggled to make an impact since becoming party leader in September.
"The reason why there are these attacks on Ed from our political enemies is they are getting worried about him," Mr Johnson said.
"And they should be as well, because in many senses they were underestimating the steel in Ed.
"You need steel to be a leader of a party, and what he is demonstrating is that he has that steel."
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Mr Johnson told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he would like to reduce taxes and played down suggestions he was at odds with Ed Miliband over tax policy.
He said there was no disagreement between him and the Labour leader over the 50p top rate of income tax.
The Conservatives maintained that the Labour leadership was split on a key element of economic policy.
'Key plank'
Mr Miliband has said he wants to keep the 50p top rate of income tax permanently, while Mr Johnson has said it could eventually go.
But Mr Johnson told the BBC: "What me and Ed agree on is that we need a 50p tax rate now, we will need it at the next general election, but we will look at it closer to the time.
"I would like to reduce taxes. The priority would be to reduce taxes for people on lower incomes."
Conservative Party deputy chairman Michael Fallon said Mr Johnson's comments showed that Labour remained split on a key plank of economic policy.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
The reason why there are these attacks on Ed from our political enemies is they are getting worried about him”
End Quote
Alan Johnson
"Once again we have the extraordinary and damaging spectacle of the leader of the opposition and his shadow chancellor at loggerheads," he said.
'Demonstrating steel'
Mr Johnson, who backed recently announced moves to overhaul Labour's leadership election process, also said he wanted to retain links with the trade unions, whose backing in the electoral college system was essential in Mr Miliband's victory over brother David.
"I'm not for breaking the link with the trade unions.
"I think it's really important and very strong, but I am for a system that means one-member-one-vote, within an electoral college system," he said.
Following Mr Miliband's launch on Saturday of a full-scale policy review, Mr Johnson added it was important that the party consulted as widely as possible.
"If we are going to have a proper policy analysis, we can't just do it in the closed world of the Labour movement - we have to open it up," he said.
And he dismissed claims that Mr Miliband had struggled to make an impact since becoming party leader in September.
"The reason why there are these attacks on Ed from our political enemies is they are getting worried about him," Mr Johnson said.
"And they should be as well, because in many senses they were underestimating the steel in Ed.
"You need steel to be a leader of a party, and what he is demonstrating is that he has that steel."
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