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Leading business-media group LexisNexis (LN) has clarified the position of one of its employees following reports she specialises in giving advice on tax dodging.
Rachel Gauke is a professional support lawyer (PSL) for LN, publisher of Taxation and Tax Journal. She is also the wife of Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke MP, who this week caused controversy by saying it was 'morally wrong' to pay tradespeople cash in hand because such behaviour encourages tax evasion.
The minister's remarks, which came amid a long-sounding chorus of disapproval from members of the public and media who believe multinationals do not pay their fair share of taxes, were quickly followed by a comment from political blogger Paul Staines, who goes by the alias Guido Fawkes.
In a 99-word post on his site, Order-Order.com, he published the headline, ‘David Gauke’s wife is tax avoidance lawyer’ under which he quoted details from Ms Gauke's personal profile.
The blog entry and the stories it sparked in other outlets misrepresented the role of one of LN’s staff members, said the company.
‘Rachel Gauke produces content for LexisPSL, which is an online tool that guides lawyers through the workings of the UK tax code. She does not advise individuals or companies on how to avoid tax or reduce their tax bills.’
