Protesters call for Hartnett to be sacked

Posted by John Stokdyk PM | on Tue, 25/10/2011 - 09:41 2459 8 comments

Protesters gathered at HMRC headquarters in London on Monday afternoon to demand the resignation of permanent secretary for tax Dave Hartnett. According to the UK Uncut website, the action was a result of outrage at Hartnett’s role “in approving secret sweetheart deals to let mega-rich corporations off billions in tax” - specifically the settlements reached in multi-billion pound disputes with Vodafone and Goldman Sachs. Minor scuffles took place as the protesters were met by police at the main entrance to the building. When business secretary Vince Cable walked past, protesters followed him, demanding that Hartnett be sacked. During the past few years HMRC’s head of tax has built up a high profile and is now paying a high price for his public recognition. According to UK Uncut, “Dave Hartnett is a corrupt representative of a corrupt system, where the richest 1% are routinely allowed to scam and lobby their way out of paying their fair share.” The protest group’s publicity linked Hartnett’s reputation as “the most wined and dined civil servant in Whitehall” to “secret deals” that allegedly let opulent corporations off billions of pounds in tax. Quoting estimates of £25bn in revenue lost from evasion, UK Uncut claimed such amounts could have avoided the need for the current round of government spending cuts.

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The stupid thing 2 thanks

johnjenkins | Tue, 25/10/2011 - 12:10 | Permalink

about it is that if DH and his ilk left the SME's alone then there wouldn't have been as much outcry. However this hypocritical stance the bash the sme's and do deals with the big boys leaves a very nasty taste.

This has been going on forever 1 thanks

ShirleyM | Tue, 25/10/2011 - 13:45 | Permalink

The only difference is that, now and again, somebody finds out and spills the beans.

Wasn't it Mohamed Al Fayed who got a sweetheart deal many years ago. Memory totally shot but he got one hell of deal from somebody!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jan/06/johnsweeney

Someone else has said............ 1 thanks

Time for change | Tue, 25/10/2011 - 15:30 | Permalink

"he should fall on his sword".

What, the sharp end!

Nice to see the protestors got one thing right.

david.price | Tue, 25/10/2011 - 18:11 | Permalink

Getting rid of Hartnett wouldn't cure all that's wrong with HMRC, but it would be a good start.

Dave Hartnett

AnnaKournikovas... | Wed, 26/10/2011 - 07:46 | Permalink

I can exclusively reveal here, that Dave drowns kittens as well!

Double edged sword

ThornyIssues | Wed, 26/10/2011 - 11:10 | Permalink

Maybe something good may come out of his demise. On the other hand, as Hartnett, by his own admission, is the only HMRC board member with tax experience, maybe not!

Perhaps there is

johnjenkins | Wed, 26/10/2011 - 12:00 | Permalink

an opening in Greece for him if he's that experienced. Come to that anywhere other than UK in Europe. Isn't that where all the has beens or wannabes go.

not just the 1%

The Black Knight | Wed, 26/10/2011 - 13:44 | Permalink

"Hartnett is a corrupt representative of a corrupt system, where the richest 1% are routinely allowed to scam and lobby their way out of paying their fair share.”

To be fair

Surely everyone is allowed to scam and lobby their way out of paying tax !

Just how the system has been set up.....these guy's rely on constant change.... whether tax is collected or not ? no one cares....just issue another statement how we are going to be very cross if you are caught.... that ought to do it ! oh and raise the penalties....we wont need as many inspectors then....doh !