The head of a leading think-tank has dubbed Gordon Brown's volunteer recruitment drive as the type of "politician's pet scheme" that leads to higher taxes.

Dr Eamonn Butler, director of the Adam Smith Institute, told epxNews that the £300 million scheme announced on Thursday brings a sting with good intentions.

"Who could oppose that? No one, until you realise it means that £20 is forcibly taken off every family of four so that the chancellor can spend it on another pet scheme.

"Politicians' pet schemes, however virtuous they appear, mean high taxes. With high taxes, we have to work longer for less money. So we¹ve less time to give to the community, less money to give to good causes", he said.

He said volunteers could achieve more on their own. "Frankly, I believe people can spend their own money better than politicians can especially when you take off the administrative expenses involved in getting the cash out of us and distributing it to the pet causes."

The full text can be viewed in "Thought for the Day".