I've been asked by a journalist what it feels like to be the most unpopular man in UK tax.
I told him that I did not know, but he could always phone Dave Hartnett to find out.
Thanks for reading this post.
You can share this post on social media of your choice by clicking these icons:
You can subscribe to this blog's daily email here.
And if you would like to support this blog you can, here:
Dave Harnett would certainly have my lifetime disachievement nomination, but worst newcomer certainly has to be Roy Osborne.
As for Mr Murphy, he is certainly not unpopular on my laptop and gets the most constructive thinker and sternest critic nomination.
ahah! blinkered (typical financial) journalist probably believed that “the most unpopular man amongst the UK tax establishment” is the same as “the most unpopular man in UK tax”! on the former, Dave Hartnett is way more popular than you, Richard, although his supporters are keeping their heads down in light of recent events.
just as small businesses up and down the country (whose interests are very different and often in conflict with the FTSE eg the reduction of capital allowances to cut corporate tax rates) need to tell the BBC and co that ‘business” is not synoymous with FTSE100 (Simon Jack is a particularly irritating example) the general body of taxpayers need to have a say on what the definition of “UK tax” is.
Most unpopular with whom?! Or was this a journalist from the ‘City = UK’ camp? A curious and unlikely accolade, but does indicate your message is getting through to large enough numbers of people for the relevant members of the financial establishment to start feeling threatened – and so they should, so congratulations on that. Keep going.
You are certainly very popular with our group Richard.
Particularly for your courageous work in exposing corruption and criminality in the Crown Dependencies and the Isle of Man.
Long may you reign!