Hundred Group next on Balls' charm offensive
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Ed Balls to meet with Hundred Group, possibly to discuss total tax framework
The Hundred Group of Finance Directors is planning to meet with Ed Balls, in
the latest example of the politician’s City charm offensive.
The body has made moves to liaise with Balls, tipped as the future
chancellor, in the New Year, with the Hundred Group’s total tax framework on its
possible agenda.
It is not clear when the meeting will be. The body’s website reveals a
meeting scheduled for 29 January. Hundred Group sources suggested the meeting
had been postponed, however, with the Treasury saying an informal meeting with
Gordon Brown would take place two days later, adding that the Budget was likely
to be discussed.
‘Ed would like to meet up with these kind of people as much as he can,’ said
a Treasury spokesman.
Balls made a keynote speech at the ICAEW’s conference last week where he
revealed the National Audit Office will audit the consolidated statement of EU
spending in the UK.
The Hundred Group, headed by Philip Broadley, first released its total tax
contribution framework document in the spring this year, with sources suggesting
it would be an annual event. A spokesman said no date had been fixed for the
document.