I was interviewed by Joe Lynam for the Today programme at 6.49 am this morning (a link is available here for the next few days) on the strange case of Lidl’s accounts. What’s strange about Lidl’s accounts is that there are none on public record in the UK. Despite its now economically significant presence in the
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Our economy is in a mess. I think that should be obvious to anyone, and yet you don’t hear that message too often on the BBC news, ITV, Newsnight and much of the print media. Ken Clarke had to leave the government before he could say the UK’s economic recovery is not ‘firm;y rooted’. Even
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The following press release was issue by Chritian Aid today. I think it sound comment: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) which is supposed to provide guidelines for good practice among its member states have missed another opportunity to show they are committed to ensuring developing countries benefit from changes in international tax
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According to the FT this morning: Boards must take control of setting a company’s ethical values and be prepared to dismiss chief executives whose values are not compatible with the culture they seek, says the Institute of Business Ethics. As they note: The study comes as trust issues continue to dog corporations, seven years after
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Ed Miliband has made a promise to deliver a budget surplus during the course of the next parliament. I have explained time and again why this is not possible. A recent version is here. A prime minister may wish to balance a budget but doing so is a matter very largely beyond their control. Then
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In February 2006  George Osborne  went to Ireland and gave a speech  that would reward study by those interested in recent political history.  What I recall from a conversation very soon afterwards with a breathless member of his entourage in London ( who has, I think,  recently been promoted in the ministerial reshuffle)  was the overall
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I have not commented in any depth on the newly contentious issues of follower notices and accelerated payment notices that have, as a result of legislation now becoming law, become the subject of much comment in the tax profession. Details of these related issues can be found here and here. In essence, follower notices give
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