Stop moaning

It is reported that Dave Hartnett, chairman of HM Revenue & Customs, has told tax advisers to take a deep breath and stop complaining because his colleagues feel oppressed by constant criticism.

 

Perhaps Dave should look a little closer to home; to himself and his own management team whose policies have consistently undermined his own staff, stripped them of any meaningful ownership of their daily work and, into the bargain, left them to face the flak at the coalface (or, in the interests of modernity, should that be the call centre ?). The professions may not be the greatest of places to be currently, but no professional would swap their lot for the poor souls they deal with at the Revenue on a daily basis, including those of senior standing who, curiously, seem ever increasingly keen to network with the professions.

Not wanting to stop whilst he had the opportunity to make himself sound even more of an idiot, Mr Hartnett proceeded to repeat the OECD belief that tax advisers and their actions had an adverse effect on government budgets. This may, indeed, be correct, but it is, nevertheless, laughable, when this comes from the man who presides over the government department responsible for the national disgrace which is the billions of pounds wasted on tax credits.

Before starting this piece, the writer made a call to Chapel Wharf (on the now obligatory hands free speaker phone, with auto redial facility). The article was drafted and typed, a cup of tea drank, an attempt made to source a basic VAT guidance note from the Revenue website (down for maintenance, and in the middle of the working day !) and only then did someone at Chapel Wharf finally answer, only to be of no use whatsoever. Well done, Dave !