Posted: 30 March 2011
Authors: DANIEL SELWOOD
Issue: Online only
Categories: Online matters, Features
Keywords: Budget 2011

Related articles:

DANIEL SELWOOD needs your help with tidying up

I know, I know, friend: you’re confused. You’re scrunching your brow and wondering, ‘Why is Taxation’s online editor wearing that pinny (and why do I suddenly find him wildly attractive)?’

I’m spring cleaning this week, you see. The outfit is for purely practical reasons (though I admit it suits me. There’s nothing quite as eye-catching as a chunky Yorkshireman in an apron; you needn’t be ashamed of your feelings.)

It’s spring, and so it’s time to tidy up a bit.

I recently raised an issue with readers: did they think non-tax professionals ought to be invited to comment on this site’s news items? Responses were swift to arrive and resolute in their conviction that only subscribers – tax experts all – should be entitled to air their views on Taxation.co.uk articles.

The main fear of the correspondents was that the site would get dirty, becoming a vast dumping ground of ill-informed remarks by anonymous individuals quick to take offence at being put straight, no matter how politely, by other web users.

That won’t happen. While we are keen to encourage more input from a greater number of visitors – to broaden the site’s content and improve its placing in search rankings – we would apply our moderation policy vigorously. And if we ever feel that the new arrangement weren’t working, we’d switch back without hesitation to the subscribers-only system.

Nevertheless, I’m happy to open the mattfor a second consultation. Drop me a line with your thoughts.

I’d also enjoy hearing from people with regards to my column of last week, which I fear got lost under the dirt kicked up by the Budget (of which more later). In it, I posited some digital developments that could stand this site in good stead – and I asked for suggestions from readers about what they wanted to see online in the future. (Yep, another request for input; the web these days is all about to-and-fro, don’t you know?)

I’m asking again, and I’m adding another suggestion: e-publishing. Would anyone like their weekly issue of Taxation to read on their Kindle or iPad? That might be quite a wheeze. It’d complement the electronic versions of Tolley’s handbooks.

Incidentally, my 23 March article featured the second mention in recent weeks of an uprising of machines. The danger of technology fighting back against human oppression has become more likely as a result of work at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

It’s not entirely unlikely, then, that HMRC web services will go offline on 2 April so that they have some time to plot against their creators. Should such paranoia be unfounded, however, online offerings will be restored at 6am on 6 April.

Either way, don’t forget about the downtime – which won’t affect the availability of the Revenue’s recently launched website quality survey. I urge you to take part.

There won’t be an online editor’s column next week because I’ll be too busy polishing my servers and dusting my metadata. While I get cracking with that, here’s something to keep you occupied: the best tweeted speculation of Budget day morning. (All spelling mistakes and typos are those of the authors).

Morning everyone......we all ready for George does advanced Maths, yah?
@langtry_girl

In keeping with the austere times, Osborne's alcoholic drink at the dispatch box will be hand sanitizer
@simonblackwell

My least favourite bit of the Budget is probably the swimsuit round
@Betfairpoker

Osborne to cut our sleep on Saturday night by one hour
@CarmeliaTisdell

#budget2011 prediction. Osborne to wheel out Mick Hucknall. Hucknall sings "money's too tight to mention" in full. Budget ends
@JackTitch

Give the UK success at the Oscars, will the Osborne's Budget help or hinder the UK film industry?
@Stweetsahead

Expecting a fair, even-handed budget that leaves me feeling good. Also expecting world peace, and Jordan to say something intelligent
@AbyinWindum

George Osborne has promised "Robin Hood Budget". Can't wait for those stockings of Lincoln green. Calm yourselves!
@TimHarford

Tax increases on: smiles, kittens… and daisies. Tax breaks for: top hat shops, monocle manufacturers and arms dealers
@bigmouthedwoman

Osborne will encourage growth by supplying everyone with complimentary grow bags and fertiliser
@seyhall

Wonder if George Osbourne has taken a lead from Steve Jobs and added a "one more thing..." surprise to his budget?
@sugarcreative

Yet again the media are bigging up the budget "at 12.30 today" even tho little will be of interest to the public
@BookMarkLee

Share this page

• Add new comment
• Printer-friendly version