Why do we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it? I'm exploring that in a new 3 part series for @BBCRadio4 and @BBCSounds. Episode 1 of The Tax Conundrum available here 🎧👇... https://t.co/Q4PUYP7O6E

Starting now on BBC Radio 4

Pleased to see "The Tax Conundrum" is radio pick of the day in the i paper and the Daily Mail 👇

So tune in for part one today on BBC Radio 4 at 11am or stream/download on BBC Sounds #taxconundrum #radio4 #bbcsounds 📻🎧👇 https://t.co/mLfnfS5Rt0

We have great interviewees - a mixture of policymakers, insiders and top experts - including Philip Hammond, Mervyn King, Nick Macpherson, Rupert Harrison, Helen Miller & Dan Neidle - who all speak candidly about the political economy of taxation policy in Britain...

Today at 11am "The Tax Conundrum" starts on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds Ahead of what will be another tax raising budget I ask in this new 3 part series why we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it... 📻🎧

So tune in for part one tomorrow (Monday 20 October) on BBC Radio 4 at 11am on stream/download on BBC Sounds #taxconundrum #radio4 #bbcsounds 📻🎧👇 https://t.co/mLfnfS5Rt0

The Tax Conundrum is Pick of the Day in the Mail on Sunday and the Radio Times describes and the Radio Times says “a lid is lifted and all is illuminated”...3/4

We have great interviewees - a mixture of policymakers, insiders and experts - @PhilipHammondUK, Mervyn King, @nickmacpherson2, @rbrharrison , @HelenMiller_IFS , @DanNeidle , @jillongovt , @Simon_Nixon - who speak candidly about the political economy of taxation policy ...2/4

Tomorrow "The Tax Conundrum" starts on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds Ahead of what will be another tax raising budget on 26 November I ask in this major 3 part series why we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it...1/4

...Click below and enter “OCTOBER25” at the checkout 👇 #WPreorder https://t.co/iatWcn71e8

📣 My book “Exile Economics” is coming out in paperback in March 2026 & you can get it for 25% less than the £12.99 retail price if you pre-order through Waterstones by the end of this Friday💸 Details below...

...Click this link and enter “OCTOBER25” at the checkout 👇 #WPreorder https://t.co/iatWcn71e8

📣 My book “Exile Economics” is coming out in paperback in March 2026 & you can get it for 25% less than the £12.99 retail price if you pre-order through Waterstones by the end of this Friday💸 Details below...

Cracked open the 3D graphics for a @BBCBreakfast piece with @BenChu_ about the latest opinion polling ahead of the rest of party conference season. Featuring a little tribute to election night!

The Conservatives have accused the government of a "cover up" of the true costs of the Chagos deal with Mauritius, and of using an "accounting trick". Here's some context 👇

E.g in her 2024 Budget speech Chancellor Rachel Reeves boasted of a £22.6bn increase in day-to-day health spending - but official documents confirmed this was an increase only in cash terms and would be spread over two years. ENDS https://t.co/rChXREDPth

This leaves them open to the charge that they present figures in an inconsistent way depending on what suits them... 21/22

However, it's also worth noting that government ministers often use cash figures when they want to emphasise the size of an increase in spending on popular public services such as the NHS or defence... 20/22

"...It seems very hard to resist the argument that it doesn’t equally apply to a government because essentially the obligations the government is taking on are obligations on behalf of you and me." 19/22