A Kent MP says he could quit his job as a Government aide in protest over the decision to scrap the 10p income tax band.

Labour member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey Derek Wyatt said he was not yet satisfied that the Government had done enough to bring round those who say the decision is harming some of the less-well off and poorly paid.

The MP, a junior aide to culture minister Margaret Hodge, said the Government should act swiftly to limit the impact on those who were being hardest hit, chiefly affecting single people earning between £5,000 and £18,000 a year.

Mr Wyatt, who has the narrowest majority of any Kent parliamentary constituency, made clear that unless ministers indicated they were willing to take steps to limit the impact on people, he could quit his position to join a potentially damaging rebellion.

"We have got to move on this and not just by setting up an inquiry. We have got to do something somehow. You could maybe adjust the National Insurance contributions...it is about fiscal will. You can do anything if there is a will to do it," he said.

He admitted he had already considered resigning but was continuing to hold meetings with Treasury ministers to see if his and other MPs’ concerns would be addressed.

"I’ve taken soundings from my local party and yes, many of us do feel this is a betrayal of our core beliefs."

He is the second Kent Labour MP to publicly denounce the tax changes. Dover MP Gywn Prosser has also spoken out againt the policy, saying he cannot defend it.