DAVID Cameron, Boris Johnson and Nick Clegg admitted they had paid tradesmen cash-in-hand yesterday.
They owned up hours after a Treasury minister said the practice was “morally wrong”.
'Didn't dodge tax' ... Jeremy Hunt
David Gauke attacked people who give plumbers, builders and electricians cash in return for a discount — claiming it helped tax dodgers.
His comments plunged the Government into turmoil — with some ministers admitting paying cash, while others insisted they did not.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The PM has probably paid cash-in-hand. But he has never done it to get a discount or avoid tax.”
Spokesmen for Deputy PM Mr Clegg and Chancellor George Osborne gave the same answer.
London Mayor Boris Johnson admitted: “I’ve certainly paid a lot of cash in hand.”
Other ministers said they never paid cash — or side-stepped the question.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt merely said: “I haven’t dodged tax.” Asked if he made cash payments, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles replied: “Certainly not.”
The Treasury tried to clarify Mr Gauke’s comments, saying it was fine to pay cash as long as it was not to help tradesmen dodge tax.
Cash ... for tradesmen
But Labour leader Ed Miliband said ministers should focus on millionaire tax dodgers instead of tradesmen.
Labour MP John Mann accused the Government of picking on the working class.
And the National Federation of Builders said ministers could solve the problem by slashing VAT for tradesmen.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar