Conference debates 2015: Is the tax system fair?

Brighton – Tuesday 29 September 
Manchester – Monday 5 October 
Aberdeen – Saturday 17 October

All politicians and commentators say they want a “fair” tax system. If they say what they mean at all they usually mean ensuring the “rich” pay more than whatever they pay now. But what is “fairness” in taxation? What is a fair share for the rich to pay, and who are they anyway? What about fairness between the generations, between the treatment of income and wealth, savings and earnings, employed and self employed? Between taxpayers and the tax authorities? Or between people who live, earn, save and spend in different ways? These are among the issues to be explored at these debates.

Our aim is to help develop better informed tax and economic policy and greater understanding of the issues and constraints facing policy makers.

We would be delighted to welcome you or your colleagues to any of these debates. Attendance is free of charge and refreshments will be served. It is not a requirement to register for these event, but it would be helpful for catering and seating purposes to have an idea of numbers, so if you are thinking of attending we would be grateful if you could email[email protected] to let us know. Note that you will require a party conference pass for the Aberdeen event as it takes place in the conference secure zone.

Details of the events are as follows -

Labour conference, Brighton
12.45-2pm, Tuesday 29 September 
Venue: Victoria Terrace, Grand Hotel, Brighton, BN1 2FW (outside secure zone). (NB. The Victoria Terrace is immediately on the left as you enter the hotel)
Speakers: Philip Collins (columnist and chief leader writer for The Times; Chair of trustees at Demos); Bill Dodwell (Deputy President of the CIOT; Head of Tax Policy at Deloitte); Paul Johnson (Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies); Labour Party spokesperson (to be confirmed). Chair: Chris Jones (President of the CIOT; Director of Tax Markets at Lexis Nexis).

Conservative conference, Manchester
5.45-7pm, Monday 5 October
Venue: Walters Suite, Radisson Blu Hotel, Manchester, M2 5GP (outside secure zone)
Speakers: John Cullinane (Tax Policy Director of the CIOT); Paul Johnson (Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies); Damian Hinds MP (Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury); an independent commentator (to be confirmed). Chair: Chris Jones (President of the CIOT; Director of Tax Markets at Lexis Nexis)

SNP conference, Aberdeen 
Venue: Crombie Suite B, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC), Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, AB23 8BL (inside the secure zone – only conference pass holders will be able to attend)
12.30-1.45pm, Saturday 17 October 
Speakers: John Swinney MSP (Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary); John Cullinane (Tax Policy Director of the CIOT); Paul Johnson (Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies). Chair: Moira Kelly (Chair, CIOT Scottish Taxes Sub-Committee)

George Crozier, CIOT Head of External Relations.