Phi Wire Hand Picked Politics - Live

  • Guido Fawkes | "Loongate" is the political equivalent of the "Ratner Moment". Gerald Ratner moc...

    • source icon
    • 12:02
    • Guido Fawkes

  • Paul Waugh | Sayeeda Warsi was 'Tory co-chairman' w/ Andrew Feldman. Now @grantshapps + Feldm...

    • source icon
    • 11:43
    • Paul Waugh

  • Alex Belardinelli | Reassured to see that it only took til 9.42 this morning for a @Swiveleyedloons ...

    • source icon
    • 11:21
    • Alex Belardinelli

  • Alex Massie | The swivel-eyed loons in the Conservative party are revolting. And they are righ...

    • source icon
    • 10:58
    • Spectator

  • WHO RUNS UK? PM weak, shrill, despised by his MPs who are bullied by loons and M...

    • source icon
    • 10:19
    • Paul Flynn Mp

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

  • PoliticsHome | Only the latest five entries on the PhiWire are visible to non-subscribers

    • Sign up to see last 24 hours

PoliticsHome. All Todays Politics In One Place

Story Tracker

Select Story:

Skip tax 'U-turn'

Skip tax 'U-turn'
The taxman was accused of a fresh U-turn today after HMRC issued new guidance on the so-called 'skip tax'.

HMRC published fresh advice following an outcry from skip operators about changes unveiled only a week ago to the landfill tax which the industry claimed would have seen an increase in the rate to dump a tonne of rubbish in landfill sites from £2.50 to £64.

Labour has seized on the move, linking it to other U-turns on taxes on pasties, caravans, and charitable donations in the last week. Rachel Reeves attacked George Osborne, saying in a statement:

"With four tax u-turns in a week when Parliament is not sitting George Osborne is clearly in a complete mess. The country needs a full-time Chancellor 100 per cent focused on getting us out of the double-dip recession caused by his mistakes.”

But HMRC emphasised earlier there was “no change of policy” but issued clarification about what materials should attract the £64 rate and what should attract the £2.50 rate.

The Treasury insisted that the new guidance was not a ministerial decision and was not linked to any Budget U-turns this week. "It is an operational matter for HMRC," a source told PoliticsHome.

Labour MPs have welcomed the news, with Siobhain McDonagh tweeting: “We've won! HMRC have backed down! The dreaded #skiptax is no more!”

Meanwhile Tom Watson added: “Treasury have climbed down on the 2500 % skip tax hike - withdrawing the guidance issued last Friday. Another u-turn.”

Skip drivers had threatened to disrupt this weekend’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in protest against the 2500% rise in duty, and they also staged a noisy protest last week in Parliament Square over the plans.

Related News

Green Box: Skip tax 'U-turn'Click to open

+ Expand all - Collapse all

Recommended External Links

Full access for £22 a month...

PoliticsHome PRO Find out more

Related PRO Content

Free Trial

The Waugh Room

A real, live Mr Greedy

31/05/2012

On air

Douglas Carswell: Scrapped proposals are the result of overreaching Treasury officials

01/06/2012 on The World At One, BBC Radio 4

On air

Lord Oakeshott: We need a full time Chancellor

01/06/2012 on The World At One, BBC Radio 4

Press Release

Labour Party: This series of U-turns shows what a mess this government is in - Reeves

01/06/2012

On air

Nigel Dodds: U-turns show Tory Party to be a push over

01/06/2012 on Any Questions, BBC Radio 4

Latest PRO Content

Free Trial

On Air

Summaries and transcripts from TV and radio

Simon Danczuk: Major failings over child grooming cases

Today on Week in Westminster, BBC Radio 4

Nicola Blackwood: Authorities did not take grooming claims seriously

Today on Week in Westminster, BBC Radio 4

John Baron: Cameron does listen, but you have to apply a little bit of pressure

Today on Week in Westminster, BBC Radio 4

See all On Air

Commons Reports

Ed Miliband a 'wishy washy wally' on Europe

16/05/2013

Transcript

Keith Joseph Memorial Lecture - Michael Gove on Keith Joseph and Cameron's Conservatism

16/05/2013

See all Transcripts

Press Releases

First of Mayor’s 100 ‘pocket parks’ opens in Stockwell

5 hours ago

See all Press Releases

Lobby Briefings

Downing Street plays down Hammond comments

17/05/2013

See all Lobby Briefings