A NORTH Yorkshire man has joined a national campaign to persuade the Chancellor to stop his tax grab on Thalidomide victims.

Campaigners have accused Gordon Brown of taking £6m in tax from victims of Thalidomide when every previous Chancellor from every government has allowed tax concessions.

The condition first came to light in 1973, affecting children whose mothers took the drug to help combat morning sickness.

The National Thalidomide Trust was set up to help the victims and to administer compensation payments to 454 survivors.

However, if the current plans to tax victims go ahead, it is estimated that, over the next 20 years, the Government could rake in an estimated £10m.

Thalidomide victim and Harrogate businessman, Guy Tweedy, joined fellow campaigners in Westminster as they turned up the heat on Mr Brown to lift the tax burden.

He said: "Compared with some of the victims, I am fortunate. I am able to work as a businessman. I went to see one victim in West Yorkshire recently who has no arms or legs and was so upset that we were being taxed on what is, after all, compensation," said Mr Tweedy.

A spokesman for the trust said: "We are not aware of any other charity making such a substantial contribution to the Government in respect of its charitable activities."

In a letter to one victim, Gordon Brown indicates his sympathy for those affected by the tragedy.

However, he adds his July spending settlement was designed to put large amounts of additional money into health and social services, while the increases were being linked to reform and effective service delivery and should have a positive impact on Thalidomide victims.

"Given this context, the Government has decided not to provide additional support for the Thalidomide Trust, either in the form of a contribution or a tax exemption.

"The Government continues to monitor the situation of those affected by Thalidomide, and the provision of support services should be tailored to their changing needs accordingly," writes the Chancellor.