Political update: November 2024

The CIOT/ATT External Relations Team attended Lib Dem, Labour and Conservative conferences in September and October and met with a range of politicians and advisers. Head of External Relations George Crozier spoke to Exchequer Secretary James Murray the day after it was announced that he would be chairing HMRC’s board and asked him about the thinking behind the move. He explained that it was about getting HMRC focused on the new government’s priorities – modernisation, customer service and tackling the tax gap.

Also at Labour, George spoke to the newly elected chair of the Commons Treasury Committee Dame Meg Hillier, congratulating her on her election. Dame Meg said that she was looking forward to the other members of her committee being elected and very much hoped to have them in place by the Budget, to carry out the traditional post-Budget questioning of the Chancellor. She looked forward to continuing the committee’s regular engagement with CIOT and ATT.

We also spoke with new Labour MP Yuan Yang in Liverpool about her work as one of the lead members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, which has been reformed in the new parliament. We have discussed the group’s plans with its communications manager and look forward to engaging with its members as they develop their programme.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Tax, formerly chaired by Ian Liddell-Granger, has not so far been reformed as organisers have yet to find a chair to replace Ian (to whom we have sent our best wishes for the future, following his defeat on 4 July and the subsequent announcement of his retirement).

Finally, congratulations to Lord Mackinlay of Richborough CTA, who took his seat in the House of Lords on 17 October (as well as receiving a special award from the CIOT at our recent reception – see page 46).