Darling: 'We're better off without windfall tax'

Alistair Darling has given his speech at the Labour Party conference, commenting on the economy, energy prices, and stability.

Alistair Darling has given his speech at the Labour Party conference, commenting on the economy, energy prices, and stability.

The chancellor, who also praised the steady hand of the prime minister Gordon Brown, was criticised by labour unions for not raising the issue of windfall taxes however, and it was suggested by Tony Woodley, the joint general secretary of Unite, that Labour may still be considering such a tax.

Speaking on the Today programme, however, Mr Darling retaliated to such comments, claiming "I suspect that we have got rather more out of the energy companies than we might have done out of a windfall tax", referring to their pledges to provide social tariffs to help poorer households pay less for their energy.

It is believed by many that the issue of a windfall tax is dead and that speculation over it is futile.

Adding extra tax bands to high earners is also not likely to draw a lengthy discussion from the chancellor, as he explained that the government's manifesto included keeping the simplified tax brackets in place.

"The basic tax bands that we have, a basic rate and a higher rate, are the right ones," he said.