A load of old Balls?

Stevo_666
Stevo_666 Posts: 61,739
edited November 2014 in The cake stop
Well sort of.

I'm off for an 'audience' with Ed Balls and one of his sidekicks tomorrow, hosted by one of the big accounting firms. (Not just me, there'll be lots of other tax people from business there). He's going to set out Labour's perspective on the taxation of business.

Fair play to him for coming into the 'Lions Den' as he's hardly likely to get an easy ride from some of us :) I'm thinking of some tricky questions over a cold glass of Schnapps; I reckon this is going to be quite interesting...
"I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]

Comments

  • Sirius631
    Sirius631 Posts: 991
    If they get in again, one could say that in terms of business tax, you'll be had by the Balls. ;-)
    To err is human, but to make a real balls up takes a super computer.
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 22,186
    when you were in power which individual company tax deals did you do that now give you sleepless nights?

    Joking aside fair play to him, though I suppose he has nothing to lose and everything to gain
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Fwiw he has a rep in parliament as the best numbers & monetary/fiscal MPs in the UK.

    Probably a low bar.
    _
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,739
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Fwiw he has a rep in parliament as the best numbers & monetary/fiscal MPs in the UK.

    Probably a low bar.
    Agree it's probably compared to a pretty low base - I'll make my own mind up on how he fares relative to some of us industry tax bods tomorrow.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Fwiw he has a rep in parliament as the best numbers & monetary/fiscal MPs in the UK.

    Probably a low bar.
    Agree it's probably compared to a pretty low base - I'll make my own mind up on how he fares relative to some of us industry tax bods tomorrow.

    gets the pulse racing. Why don't you just go down the pub?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Well, how was it?
    _
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Well, how was it?

    Very dull I imagine but that might be right up your street :P
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,739
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Well, how was it?
    Actually quite interesting - for me anyway.

    It was under Chatham House rules so I am sworn to secrecy on details :wink: , but overall he acquitted himself pretty well, has a good grasp of the subject matter by politicians standard (as he should given his job) and is interested in the views of business. It wasn't quite a 'prawn cocktail' charm offensive, probably more an awareness that while business does not have a vote directly, when they come out and make public statements on this sort of issue it can swing public opinion to a degree - as seen in the Scottish referendum. The differences in principle remain though.

    Apart from Blair he's the only major league politician that I've met face to face, and the Blair meeting was totally out of the blue on holiday.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    It was under Chatham House rules
    thought that meant your source is anonymous? "I'm afraid I can't tell you which Shadow Chancellor I spoke to..."
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,660
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Well, how was it?
    Actually quite interesting - for me anyway.

    It was under Chatham House rules so I am sworn to secrecy on details :wink: , but overall he acquitted himself pretty well, has a good grasp of the subject matter by politicians standard (as he should given his job) and is interested in the views of business. It wasn't quite a 'prawn cocktail' charm offensive, probably more an awareness that while business does not have a vote directly, when they come out and make public statements on this sort of issue it can swing public opinion to a degree - as seen in the Scottish referendum. The differences in principle remain though.

    Apart from Blair he's the only major league politician that I've met face to face, and the Blair meeting was totally out of the blue on holiday.

    Like I said, Balls has a rep for being the most able treasury type for actual governance.

    He just has a penchant for the tribal politics which is quite unpalatable.
    _
  • arran77
    arran77 Posts: 9,260
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Well, how was it?
    Actually quite interesting - for me anyway.

    Boring tw@ :P
    "Arran, you are like the Tony Benn of smut. You have never diluted your depravity and always stand by your beliefs. You have my respect sir and your wife my pity" :lol:

    seanoconn
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,739
    arran77 wrote:
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Well, how was it?
    Actually quite interesting - for me anyway.

    Boring tw@ :P
    Being boring has its upsides.

    Like your job I guess :wink:
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 61,739
    bompington wrote:
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    It was under Chatham House rules
    thought that meant your source is anonymous? "I'm afraid I can't tell you which Shadow Chancellor I spoke to..."
    You would have had a point if I'd told you what he said :wink:
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]

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