Nuzhound has picked up a couple of new stories on the Northern Ireland corporation tax issue. The most signifIcant perhaps is this one from Henry McDonald:
The threat of a Scottish rebellion has sunk plans for a massive cut in
corporation tax in Northern Ireland as part of a deal aimed at
restoring power-sharing.
All Northern Ireland parties wanted to slash
local corporation tax as part of an economic aid package linked to the
St Andrews Agreement negotiated between the British and Irish
governments last month. But The Observer has learnt that when Gordon
Brown meets the parties this week, he will say the cut will not be part
of any deal. Sources say the Chancellor fears a rebellion in the
Scottish Parliament if Northern Ireland is granted a special low-tax
status. (Observer)
It’s not often that you get a political consensus in Ireland that includes the Irish Government, the DUP, Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Ulster Unionists. It looks like this one could be sacrificed to Brown’s Britishness agenda, a priority which might be sincere, but which is undeniably linked to his own promotion prospects.
Sunday’s other stories on the issue include these:
Pressure for corporate tax cut in North: Sunday Business Post
New company tax rate for North will put SF in power with Paisley:
Sunday Independent
North should cut corporation tax rate: Sunday Business Post
Unionists look south as job cuts bite deep: Sunday Business Post
Related Posts
29 March: Northern Ireland’s changing terms of trade
17 April: UUP backs SNP on tax
15 October: Will Brown give Northern Ireland a Corporation Tax cut?
24 October: More on the Northern Ireland corporation tax debate
27 October: All-island economy study launched
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