"Stone Deaf"
That's what Sir Tony O'Reilly said about the government's hearing so far as calls for a lower regional rate of corporation tax here are concerned. But Gordon Brown showed no sign of giving ground on this score - he insisted that companies often pay a lower rate than the headline 28%, and declared his opposition to harmonising corporation tax rates across the European Union.
The Prime Minister did bring one pressie - telling the Executive they could keep the proceeds from sales of their assets to the tune of £2.2 billion. That's double the current figure. But is this an enormously generous gesture or an injunction to sell off the family silver at a time when the market price is rock bottom?
Executive sources are sceptical about whether they can get anywhere near the £2.2 billion figure. What was clear from Sir David Varney's recent report is that Belfast port is the big plum Whitehall believes can be plucked from the Executive's tree. But Stormont ministers are far from certain this would be such a good idea.
In his speech, urging us to bring down Belfast's barriers, the New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg did refer once or twice to First Minister "Pailey". But third time around he inserted the "s". So not quite a second "Dobbya-ism"..
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I see other commentators on here are having the same problem in getting comments approved that tell it like it is. I tried to say last week about the Varney report and Peter Robinson but that was rejected because it broke house rules. Would these be the same kind of rules as the ministerial code whereby if you disagree with Peter Robinson you must be shot?
Anyway without getting bogged down by petty politics what about Sir Tony O'Reilly's comments on the Varney report? Exactly what I thought and tried to say. David Varney wrote what Gordon Brown and Peter Robinson told him. Why did you not mention this in your blog comment Mark? If I was an American I would not invest here on the basis that Brown and Robinson say so. If the Americans wanted to see the real Brown why not ask Cameron. Yesterday in the House of Commons Brown was made to look like a fool. This is an extract from Hansard -
David Cameron - Seven months ago, the Prime Minister called off the general election and said that he wanted more time to set out his vision. Since then, we have had nearly 130 White and Green Papers, 34 Government Bills and 7,457 Government press releases. If he had a coherent vision, would not people have heard it by now? Should not everyone conclude that we have a Government who just lurch from one relaunch to another? Should they not conclude that what is missing is what is really needed—that is, a clear vision and some strong leadership for Britain? Gordon Brown - The choice in this country is between a Government who have created jobs, stability, growth and public services and a Conservative party that has absolutely nothing to offer the people of this country. When I look at what the Conservative promises are, I see £10 billion of tax cuts, a black hole in public spending, risk to the economy and going back to the situation that we had in the early '90s. No amount of slick salesmanship can obscure the fact that there is no substance in anything the Conservatives are saying. David Cameron - People expressed their view on the choice last week. The Prime Minister talks about salesmanship. We all know his brilliant salesmanship—this is the man who sold gold at the bottom of the market. That is the problem with the Prime Minister — he has got nothing to sell and he is useless at selling it. While we are at it, I have got a bit more advice for him. This is the Prime Minister who went on "American Idol" with more make-up on than Barbara Cartland; this is the Prime Minister who sits in No. 10 Downing street wondering— [ Interruption. ] Michael Martin (Speaker) Order. David Cameron - He sits in No. 10 Downing street waiting for Shakira to call and waiting for George Clooney to come to tea. I have got a bit of advice for him: why does he not give up the PR and start being a PM?
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I would believe very little of what the current partnership at Stormont tells me regarding new hope for the economy. I am told the Big Man ordered some quick successes to bolster his position and choice.
Really they are small fry in the international business market and should catch themselves on thinking that USA companies see a generous return from 1.7M people. Anyhow, the political elite have no intention of creating more employment for the skilled and educated seeing their dynasties come first.
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Mark
CORPORATION TAX ARGUMENT IS SPURIOUS
Gordon Brown is right to suggest that very few companies pay the full 28% Corporation Tax. Indeed I would wager a sizeable sum that not one company in Northern Ireland has ever paid the full amount.
The calls from big business for reduced Corporation Tax are not made for philanthropic reasons. In the main, the senior managements of companies are only interested in accumulating personal wealth. Companies in NI would use any relief on Corporation Tax in the same way that they have traditionally used over-generous Government Grants – ie to purchase top-of-the-range cars and large houses and to reward themselves with exorbitant end-of-year bonuses.
Susie
Carryduff
9 May, 2008
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