Osborne: Govt 'lacks vision' on long-term taxation reform
Friday, 15 Feb 2008 14:02
George Osborne attacked the government's tax record
The government lacks a long-term strategy for reforming Britain's tax structures, the shadow chancellor has said.
George Osborne accused chancellor Alistair Darling and prime minister Gordon Brown of "dithering" over non-domicile tax proposals and said their "hastily cobbled together package" let the system down.
Addressing the Policy Exchange thinktank this morning, Mr Osborne announced a review of taxation to be led by former chancellor Geoffrey Howe.
Lord Howe will examine ways of ending "stealth taxes" in Britain, which Mr Osborne says have undermined the transparency and efficiency of the current system.
He wants to see parliament have more time to scrutinise technical taxation changes, which he believes should be made public the autumn before the Budget is announced.
"By the time the legislation reaches the statute book it will have been thoroughly examined and scrutinised by the people who will have to implement it. That means no more stealth taxes," he said.