BN66 - Time to fight back!!!

[SantaClaus]

Enough is enough!

OK, here's my idea:

We club together and take out full page adverts in one or two of the national newspapers.

We shame the govt. with their retrospective taxation, bring it to the attention of Joe public and worry Joe public that it could be him next.
We bring to the attention of business leaders that England is not a stable environment to invest because of "tax uncertainty".

Then we write to every MP (especially the conservative ones ) and inform them (but not with too much notice to the Labour MPs) of the press campaign and start to get the public interested.

If we use the angle that "England is not a stable environment with uncertainty of taxes" rather than "greedy contractors are a bunch of whining tax dodgers" then I think we can make this work.

Then when the case comes to court, our campaign will be looming over Mr Brannigan's (hello )

The last time I checked, newspaper adverts were in the region of thousands of pounds, but hey we stand to lose thousands anyway

[DonkeyRhubarb]

Property Developers

Does anyone know anything about the property developers who have also been clobbered by BN66?

I believe some were being represented by Pricewaterhouse Coopers, so they must be in it for a fair old wodge. Hopefully they will bring the big guns along when the time comes.

[poppy01]

OK, here's my idea:

We club together and take out full page adverts in one or two of the national newspapers.

We shame the govt. with their retrospective taxation, bring it to the attention of Joe public and worry Joe public that it could be him next.
We bring to the attention of business leaders that England is not a stable environment to invest because of "tax uncertainty".

Then we write to every MP (especially the conservative ones ) and inform them (but not with too much notice to the Labour MPs) of the press campaign and start to get the public interested.

If we use the angle that "England is not a stable environment with uncertainty of taxes" rather than "greedy contractors are a bunch of whining tax dodgers" then I think we can make this work.

Then when the case comes to court, our campaign will be looming over Mr Brannigan's (hello )

The last time I checked, newspaper adverts were in the region of thousands of pounds, but hey we stand to lose thousands anyway

I'm in, how do we get organised

[SantaClaus]

I'm in, how do we get organised

We really need access to that list of 2000 Montpelier scheme members first, then we can collect the funds necessary for an ad campaign.

Anyone have access to this?

[poppy01]

We really need access to that list of 2000 Montpelier scheme members first, then we can collect the funds necessary for an ad campaign.

Anyone have access to this?

doubt whether anyone but MP and HMRC have that. but if all 2000
chipped in, I dont think thousands of pounds for an advert would be much of an obstacle, DR, any ideas about how we get as many on board as poss?

the anger is growing, time to milk it

[portseven]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle4621916.ece

many more to follow I'm sure, well done Brown, Brannigan et al, you bunch of f**kwits

This was featured on Radio 4's 6pm news, so its made it into the mainstream. So news of the shambles that is the UK tax system is getting out there.

The one chap that was interviewed was quoted as saying that HMRC under the current goverment had 'lost the plot' with regards to taxation

Also on the BBC Website

[SantaClaus]

This was featured on Radio 4's 6pm news, so its made it into the mainstream. So news of the shambles that is the UK tax system is getting out there.

The one chap that was interviewed was quoted as saying that HMRC under the current goverment had 'lost the plot' with regards to taxation

Also on the BBC Website

From the BBC article:

"A Treasury spokesman said that while it could not comment on individual companies "the UK continues to offer one of the most competitive business tax regimes of any major economy". "

Oh, that's ok then!

[silver_lining]

OK, here's my idea:

We club together and take out full page adverts in one or two of the national newspapers.

We shame the govt. with their retrospective taxation, bring it to the attention of Joe public and worry Joe public that it could be him next.
We bring to the attention of business leaders that England is not a stable environment to invest because of "tax uncertainty".

Then we write to every MP (especially the conservative ones ) and inform them (but not with too much notice to the Labour MPs) of the press campaign and start to get the public interested.

If we use the angle that "England is not a stable environment with uncertainty of taxes" rather than "greedy contractors are a bunch of whining tax dodgers" then I think we can make this work.

Then when the case comes to court, our campaign will be looming over Mr Brannigan's (hello )

The last time I checked, newspaper adverts were in the region of thousands of pounds, but hey we stand to lose thousands anyway

Chaps,

While I totally understand the conviction, really think this is a bad idea. Given the current situation with the majority struggling to makes ends meet, property prices, repossessions etc.

Drawing attention to individuals who on the face of it are 'loaded' will back fire. While you can argue the ins and outs to individuals who have some understanding, the basic Joe will only see the numbers and earnings and draw a conclusion, the wrong ones.

What the public are interested in and whats in the public interest are not the same thing. The public will be interested but for the wrong reasons and draw the wrong conclusions.. it is not the way to go.

On the other hand multicast to the appropriate groups.... might be the better way to go....

[SantaClaus]

Chaps,

While I totally understand the conviction, really think this is a bad idea. Given the current situation with the majority struggling to makes ends meet, property prices, repossessions etc.

Drawing attention to individuals who on the face of it are 'loaded' will back fire. While you can argue the ins and outs to individuals who have some understanding, the basic Joe will only see the numbers and earnings and draw a conclusion, the wrong ones.

What the public are interested in and whats in the public interest are not the same thing. The public will be interested but for the wrong reasons and draw the wrong conclusions.. it is not the way to go.

On the other hand multicast to the appropriate groups.... might be the better way to go....

I'm not talking about drawing attentions to "loaded individuals". The campaign should focus on the uncertainty of tax that every citizen and business in this country now faces. The fact that the goalposts can be moved at any time in the future for any business and the UK is no longer a safe place to do business. It should draw attention to the businesses setting up in Ireland, the reasons why and the even worse effect that Labour's taxation policy will have on the UK. That would deeply embarrass the government.

When IR35 was introduced, I suggested a newspaper campaign to the PCG. They ignored my advice and thought that cosying up to MPs and quietly debating things would help them. It didnt!

I knew in the back of my mind that a campaign like this would never happen because IT contractors are either too cynical , too lazy or too stressed in their jobs to do anything about it. Its a shame because spending a few grand now could save us a lot more later.

[poppy01]

Chaps,

While I totally understand the conviction, really think this is a bad idea. Given the current situation with the majority struggling to makes ends meet, property prices, repossessions etc.

Drawing attention to individuals who on the face of it are 'loaded' will back fire. While you can argue the ins and outs to individuals who have some understanding, the basic Joe will only see the numbers and earnings and draw a conclusion, the wrong ones.

What the public are interested in and whats in the public interest are not the same thing. The public will be interested but for the wrong reasons and draw the wrong conclusions.. it is not the way to go.

On the other hand multicast to the appropriate groups.... might be the better way to go....

I disagree, as long as its worded appropriately and the emphasis is not on us but the principle and how it may affect 'them' in the future. There are some pretty influential professional bodies who would support us, not least the opposition in parliament, soon to be the government.