It's all about simplification, Alistair Darling declared as he announced his budget last month. Simpler capital gains tax, simpler corporation tax etc, etc.
Why then was I not surprised when I read this morning that at 442 pages, Darling's first Finance Bill beats the average length of all of Gordon Brown's Finance Acts?!
Simplification? I think not!
Darling has been living in the shadow of his predecessor ever since becoming chancellor but at least he can now claim one victory over Mr Brown – he knows how to write a bigger Finance Act!
However, small businesses certainly won't be celebrating as the Bill fails to demonstrate Darling's promises of simplification. To make matters worse, the legislation is only at first draft stage so as it passes through Parliament, it is likely to get even longer.
Darling and others have been quick to claim that entrepreneurs running small firms will no longer have to wade through pages of complicated rules and regulations but this latest piece of legislation suggests ministers still have a long way to go in turning words into action.
Small company owners will be watching closely to see whether, when the 2008 Finance Act becomes law, their business lives will really become simpler.
Why then was I not surprised when I read this morning that at 442 pages, Darling's first Finance Bill beats the average length of all of Gordon Brown's Finance Acts?!
Simplification? I think not!
Darling has been living in the shadow of his predecessor ever since becoming chancellor but at least he can now claim one victory over Mr Brown – he knows how to write a bigger Finance Act!
However, small businesses certainly won't be celebrating as the Bill fails to demonstrate Darling's promises of simplification. To make matters worse, the legislation is only at first draft stage so as it passes through Parliament, it is likely to get even longer.
Darling and others have been quick to claim that entrepreneurs running small firms will no longer have to wade through pages of complicated rules and regulations but this latest piece of legislation suggests ministers still have a long way to go in turning words into action.
Small company owners will be watching closely to see whether, when the 2008 Finance Act becomes law, their business lives will really become simpler.
