CBI and TUC row over taxes

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry
(CBI) are at loggerheads over the taxation of businesses in the UK, on the eve
of the annual Trades Union Congress in Brighton.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber claimed business should pay more if tax
increases are needed to maintain the current levels of spending on public
services in the coming years, while the CBI has argued the exact opposite,
saying recently that business taxes are too high and that Britain is losing its
competitive edge with its main European and Asian rivals as a result.

John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, was scathing in his response to
Barber, according to The Observer saying: ‘What planet is the TUC
living on? The tax burden on UK business has risen consistently over the past
decade, just as other major economies have cut their business tax rate, causing
a slide down the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s tax
competitiveness tables.

‘If we are to remain competitive, and continue to create jobs and wealth, we
need a cut in business taxes, not another hike.’