If you are generally a supporter of the government, read Version A. If not, read Version B.
Version A
In excellent news that the government is taking cracking down on tax seriously, the government has appointed a heavy-weight team of tax experts to review the case for introducing a General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR). The selection of legal, judicial and tax experts means the case for a GAAR will receive expert scrutiny and make it very hard for the government to reject any recommendations for action.
Version B
In appalling news that shows how the government has sold out to rich tax-dodgers, the government has hand-picked people from the heart of the current system to review the case for introducing a General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR). The selection of people who advise multinationals on how to minimise the amount of tax they pay means the case for GAAR will get quietly buried.
Follow @libdemvoice.org on Bluesky
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
The Joy of Six 1568
Lib Dems jump from 5th to 2nd in Newcastle contest
A very Russian conspiracy
David Raw
Steve Trevethan
3 Comments
I approve of this news portrayal format or style
Sincerely
R Brown
Liberal Democrat candidate 2011
P.S. stripping the SFO and HMRC of the ability to reach top-secret tax deals without running it past a court first might help too, maybe more so.
Mark you might also have mentioned the consultation on ‘disguised remuneration’ which was issued at the end of last year and which is expected to stop various esoteric tax avoidance strategies and save around £500m.
It was the same under the previous government – these people were regularly consulted on changes to the tax system, both in specific cases and I seem to recall there was a sort of annual review process. I suppose the thinking then as now was that it’s simpler to get them inside the tent from the start.