Since 1927 the leading authority on tax law, practice and administration
.png)
.png)
Meet the bland
Jul 3, 2008, 08:24 AM
Authors :
Daniel
Show link :
Yes
Show link in individual comments :
No
Show Printer-friendly URLs list :
Yes
User can post comments :
No
Display comments :
No
Sticky at top of lists :
No
Promoted to front page :
No
Premium content :
No
Feature in listings page :
No
Post date :
Jul 3, 2008, 08:24 AM
Contrary to popular opinion, modern politics aren't all about personality.
Take, for example, prominent MPs Ruth Kelly, Oliver Letwin and Nick Clegg: charisma-vacuums all - and yet the public still voted for them.
There is, however, one position of power in which lack of personal magnetism is not an issue. In fact - as my colleague Richard suggested - it's probably a benefit.
That position, dear reader, is Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Need proof?
Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown, Kenneth Clarke, Norman Lamont, John Major... you wouldn't want to find yourself chained to Downing Street's railings next to any of these pizazz-voids.
Note, by the way, how all five chaps have easily caricatured physical characteristics: creepy eyebrows, wobbly gob, fat, creepy eyebrows again, no top lip.
Anyway, back to my point, which is about why George Osborne would be ideal as Mr Darling's successor.
Because the shadow chancellor is utterly unhindered by allure.
It's almost as if at some point during his youthful development he traded in his personality for an extra helping of blandness - most of which he then rubbed all over his face.
Take, for instance, his speech today to announce the publication of a Tory working party report on tax law reform.
It was 1,141 words and revealed absolutely nothing.
Mr Osborne thanked the producers of the report, went over the well-worn details of recent tax controversies, stooped to a bit of childish name-calling, repeated the details of the new report, and spouted a few cliches.
At no point did he utter anything new or interesting.
Brilliant!
Put the man in charge of the Treasury right now.
Actually, don't - at least, not until he's had collagen implants, a nose grafted onto his cheek, or had something else done to make work easier for political cartoonists and Rory Bremner.
To return to the charisma-fuelled Taxation.co.uk, click here.
Take, for example, prominent MPs Ruth Kelly, Oliver Letwin and Nick Clegg: charisma-vacuums all - and yet the public still voted for them.
There is, however, one position of power in which lack of personal magnetism is not an issue. In fact - as my colleague Richard suggested - it's probably a benefit.
That position, dear reader, is Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Need proof?
Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown, Kenneth Clarke, Norman Lamont, John Major... you wouldn't want to find yourself chained to Downing Street's railings next to any of these pizazz-voids.
Note, by the way, how all five chaps have easily caricatured physical characteristics: creepy eyebrows, wobbly gob, fat, creepy eyebrows again, no top lip.
Anyway, back to my point, which is about why George Osborne would be ideal as Mr Darling's successor.
Because the shadow chancellor is utterly unhindered by allure.
It's almost as if at some point during his youthful development he traded in his personality for an extra helping of blandness - most of which he then rubbed all over his face.
Take, for instance, his speech today to announce the publication of a Tory working party report on tax law reform.
It was 1,141 words and revealed absolutely nothing.
Mr Osborne thanked the producers of the report, went over the well-worn details of recent tax controversies, stooped to a bit of childish name-calling, repeated the details of the new report, and spouted a few cliches.
At no point did he utter anything new or interesting.
Brilliant!
Put the man in charge of the Treasury right now.
Actually, don't - at least, not until he's had collagen implants, a nose grafted onto his cheek, or had something else done to make work easier for political cartoonists and Rory Bremner.
To return to the charisma-fuelled Taxation.co.uk, click here.
Tags :
Tax Topic Tags :
- Blog
READERS' FORUM 
Tax tip: HMRC enquiries into R&D claims
Readers’ forum: Should income from different trades be declared separately?
Readers’ forum: Tax treatment of incentive upfront payment
Readers’ forum: What is the basis of the legal obligation to disclose errors?
Readers’ forum: Was credit note issued correctly for VAT purposes?
New queries
NEWS 
CASES
Copyright © 2024 LexisNexis
Leave a comment