Gordon Brown honoured for contribution to tax
Former Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to the field of taxation by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT).
Mr Brown (photographed below) (has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute. This award is a mark of excellence bestowed on the grounds of particular distinction in the field of taxation.
Commenting ahead of the presentation, which will take place at a virtual ceremony later today, CIOT President Peter Rayney said:
“Gordon Brown is one of the great reforming Chancellors who has shaped the tax and related benefits system like few before or since.
“In 10 years as Chancellor he made significant changes which strengthened the competitiveness of the UK as a location for holding companies and many business friendly tax measures.
“He introduced business asset taper relief, the forerunner of Entrepreneurs' Relief – which we now call Business Asset Disposal Relief. He introduced working tax credits, the first ISAs and a simplified regime for pension tax relief.
“He launched the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS) regime which was a game changer to tackling marketed tax avoidance. And he negotiated changes to the EU Savings Directive to focus it around transparency and exchange of information, rather than withholding taxes. This approach has been the blueprint for subsequent international agreements to combat tax evasion.
“In recognition of all of these achievements, and many others, Gordon Brown is a deserving recipient of a CIOT Honorary Fellowship.”
Notes for editors
1. Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown (photographed) served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007, making him the longest-serving Chancellor in modern history. During ten years at the Treasury, his achievements include the Minimum Wage, Sure Start, the Winter Fuel Allowance, the Child Trust Fund, the Child Tax Credit and paid paternity leave. He granted operational independence to the Bank of England and delivered an agreement at the Gleneagles Summit in 2005 to support the world’s poorest countries and tackle climate change. He is also particularly remembered for the five economic tests which had the effect of keeping the UK out of the euro.
As Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 he won praise for his international leadership role during the 2008 financial crisis. In April 2009, he hosted the G20 Summit in London where world leaders committed to make an additional $1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the crisis and restore credit, growth and jobs.
In his current role as UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown works to help galvanise support for global education investment and the use of innovative financing to reach the UN’s global goals. He is Chair of the High-Level Steering Group for Education Cannot Wait, the fund for education in emergencies; Chair of the Inquiry on Protecting Children in Conflict; and Chair of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity. Since September 2021, he also serves as WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing.
2. CIOT Honorary Fellowships
Gordon Brown is the 35th recipient of a CIOT honorary fellowship. Other former ministers to have received the honour include:
Rt Hon Lord Mackay Of Clashfern (former Lord Chancellor) 1981; Rt Hon Lord Howe of Aberavon (former Chancellor) 2000; Rt Hon Lord Lawson of Blaby (former Chancellor) 2006; Rt Hon Lord Healey (former Chancellor) 2009; Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke (former Chancellor) 2015; Rt Hon David Gauke (former Financial Secretary and Chief Secretary) 2020
A full list of previous recipients of the award is available on request: [email protected]