A GOVERNMENT crackdown on dangerous dogs was branded a shambles last night after a key measure was junked just one week after it was announced.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced he was dropping plans to force every owner to take out third-party insurance – at an annual cost of at least £60 – in case their pet attacked a passer-by.

The U-turn followed fierce criticism the crackdown went too far by penalising millions of law-abiding dog owners with what the Conservatives dubbed a “dog tax”.

The Tories quickly unveiled posters featuring Gordon Brown as the dog from a well-know insurance adverts with the slogan: ‘A dog tax on five million owners. Oh yes.’

Yesterday, Mr Benn backtracked, insisting he could “rule out” compulsory insurance for all dogs because he did not want to penalise “responsible dog owners”.

Instead, he said only dogs causing trouble would be targeted, with a requirement their owner take out insurance if they received a control order.

Mr Benn said: “We can rule out compulsory insurance for all dogs. The idea was raised with us because of the horrific injuries some very dangerous dogs can cause.

“It was therefore included in the government consultation document.

“Any suggestion we will put a tax on all dog owners is simply untrue – yet another example of desperate Tory scaremongering.”