Angela Smith wrestles with her conscience - and wins

It seems that Angela Smith is not going to resign as a PPS after all.

The Guardian reports:

Gordon Brown tonight scrambled to persuade a junior ministerial aide not to resign from the government over a decision to abolish the 10p tax rate.

Angela Smith, parliamentary private secretary to Yvette Cooper, the chief secretary to the Treasury, told friends she was unhappy about the abolition, which will leave some lower-paid single people and childless couples worse off.

A government source said the prime minister spoke to Smith in a transatlantic phone call during his US visit in an effort to get her to reconsider. "I don't think Angela quite realised what she was doing. I don't think she quite realised the severity of it," the source said.

I am sure we all wish Ms Smith the best of luck with her future career.