Couples usually work together to avoid tax troubles. But Ségolène Royal and François Hollande gave themselves a fiscal headache this week, as critics branded the French Socialist party’s presidential candidate a “middle class tax-raiser” in response to comments by her partner.

Jean-François Copé, budget minister, yesterday seized on a promise by Mr Hollande, Socialist party leader, to abolish tax cuts for anyone earning a net monthly salary of more than €4,000 ($5,100, £2,600).