The Week That Was: A Taxing Subject

David Cameron has done his best to make many things fashionable since becoming PM. Who'd have thought it would be U-Turns that took off as the trend de jour? So of-the-moment, even comedians are adding them to their box of tricks. I'm sure this time last week the Labour-supporting Jimmy Carr didn't envisage himself becoming a poster-boy for the movement, but a few misplaced comments about tax avoidance can do that for a man.

David Cameron has done his best to make many things fashionable since becoming PM. Who'd have thought it would be U-Turns that took off as the trend de jour? So of-the-moment, even comedians are adding them to their box of tricks.

I'm sure this time last week the Labour-supporting Jimmy Carr didn't envisage himself becoming a poster-boy for the movement, but a few misplaced comments about tax avoidance can do that for a man.

Earlier in the week, the 8 Out Of 10 Cats presenter was named in a Times investigation as one of more than 1,000 individuals benefitting from the K2 tax scheme. Despite Carr's lawyers defending his use of the Jersey-based accounting arrangement and the comedian himself insisting during a stand-up gig, "I pay what I have to and not a penny more," it wasn't long before he took to Twitter to announce he'd had a change of heart (or morals, depending on your point of view).

In a string of posts, he told more than two million followers, "I appreciate as a comedian, people will expect me to 'make light' of this situation, but I'm not going to in this statement.

"As this is obviously a serious matter. I met with a financial advisor and he said to me 'Do you want to pay less tax? It's totally legal'. I said 'Yes'."

"I now realise I've made a terrible error of judgement.

"Although I've been advised the K2 Tax scheme is entirely legal, and has been fully disclosed to HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs).

"I'm no longer involved in it and will in future conduct my financial affairs much more responsibly. Apologies to everyone. Jimmy Carr."

Note to Cameron and Co: U-Turns on Twitter are far more down with the kids than U-Turns announced during PMQs.

Maybe that's where Michael Gove will head if and when he decides scrapping GCSEs isn't the right way forward, although judging by his opinions on advancements in society, maybe he'd prefer it chalked up on a black board instead.

Elsewhere, the much hyped new Ascot dress-code didn't appear to hamper the OTT extravagance loved by the general British public. The Queen may have stuck to the hats-only, no-fascinators rule, but no one said anything about not sticking baked beans and eggs on your head, did they?

And for the Great British public who did keep to the rules, the Great British weather ensured they looked just as disheveled as the rest of the pack.

In fact, with the ongoing damp squib of a season to contend with, bus drivers and doctors striking, and more turmoil in the banking sector if it weren't for England's performance in Euro 2012, it would make for a pretty lousy summer.

No pressure tonight then, boys.

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