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Stop messing about

11 December 2012 / Mike Truman
Issue: 4383 / Categories: Comment & Analysis , autumn statement 2012 , Admin
MIKE TRUMAN sees an unfortunate connection between George Osborne and Kenneth Williams

KEY POINTS

  • Government’s tax legislation strategy is in tatters.
  • Continual AIA limit changes: what will the transitional provisions be this time?
  • Why there will never be a higher-rate relief clawback on pension contributions.
  • Employee shareholders to be introduced despite negative consultation.

The late Kenneth Williams was mostly known for his facial expressions and funny voices but he did have a catchphrase devised for him by Galton and Simpson in Hancock’s Half Hour.

At some point in most episodes Williams would complain in a nasal drawl “Stop messing about”.

Looking at the changes to the tax system announced by the chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne in his autumn statement I find myself thinking exactly the same thing.

Let’s start with the fact that he was making tax announcements (and quite...

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