“... accountancy appears not to be my strongest suit.”

One might be forgiven for thinking that the most elementary grasp of arithmetic is a somewhat lesser skill than accountancy, but if Jack Straw tells us that the inability to add up is a reasonable excuse, and one which exempts him from sanction, that will do nicely for us plebs when the taxman comes to argue we should be penalised for inaccurate claims.

If, when determining the standard of reasonableness of behaviour, being a matter to be assessed on a per person basis, an individual taxpayer does not have a CV showing the following ...

• Secretary of State for Justice
• Lord High Chancellor
• Privy Councillor
• Barrister at law
• Queen’s Counsel
• Governing Bencher of Inner Temple
• Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society (no kidding !)

... then, whatever standard  they are held to should be a lower one than applies to Jack Straw.  And if Jack Straw is free of culpability, then so must be the individual taxpayer.

For the avoidance of any confusion, Jack Straw is, indeed, the same Jack Straw who is the champion of anti-corruption.  Which is good to know.