Sign our e-petition − don’t leave UK tax policy just to the politicians

Friday, January 08, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Business, Protecting your wealth | Tags: business, Francesca Lagerberg, government, tax policy, tax manifesto, petition, Monetary Policy Committee, e-petition, thinktank

We need your help. As part of our Tax Manifesto campaign, Grant Thornton is urging the Government to set up a specialist body of business and tax experts to help formulate UK tax policy.  Francesca Lagerberg, Grant Thornton’s Head of Tax, lodged an e-petition with 10 Downing Street to set up a tax policy committee. It takes just a minute or two to sign and we need just 500 signatures to get a response. So please sign the petition now! And don’t leave tax just to the politicians. For more information, read on…

Pragmatic tax changes
The e-petition follows up on Grant Thornton’s proposals for pragmatic tax changes after the 2010 General Election. Our Tax Manifesto combines economic analysis undertaken in conjunction with Lombard Street Research, with views solicited from a business community of 500 UK finance directors.

Mrs Lagerberg’s petition for a dedicated tax policy thinktank says:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to set up a tax policy committee to pull together appropriate experts to work with Parliament to formulate tax policy.

It goes on to say:

While the current government has a strong record of consultation, all tax policy would benefit from earlier input from businesses and tax experts, rather than just politicians. A tax policy committee would provide practical information on the best ways to achieve particular results and on how any change would work in practice.

Similar to the Monetary Policy Committee, it should include some constant members who would serve for a fixed term, but also have ‘rolling places’ to enable specific experts to be drafted in as required.

Earlier consultation
In an election year, it is more important than ever to canvass the views of business and tax professionals at an earlier stage in order to inform the next era of Parliament.

As one of Grant Thornton’s tax experts pointed out recently in Tax rises – the elephant in the room, MPs’ electoral promises are creating a smokescreen of spending cuts but sweeping the subject of tax rises firmly under the carpet.

But someone must look at this subject − and soon. So please help us put the experts in the most useful place to do it.

Please sign the petition and/or pass on the link. Your support is greatly appreciated.