TAX, TIES AND SIDEWAYS SWIPES

摘要

To the Houses of Parliament, where Stephen Williams MP, who is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, once again hosted members for the annual drinks party on the parliamentary terrace - a rather lovely event the CIOT holds every summer.Williams was in fine form, waxing lyrical about how he was a true treasure among MPs, being one of only two qualified to speak about tax - at a time of relentless corporate bashing on avoidance issues, and general abuse of tax advisers. And he made much of his qualification - indeed a real CIOT qualification as he'd passed his exams - unlike some MPs, he said, with a swipe at the Public Accounts Committee, berated for not being able to tell the difference between turnover and profit. But alas, he confessed that he had to look for his CIOT tie before the event: '...I actually dug out my institute tie... which was still in its plastic wrapping...' Errr... a proud member then?