In 2002, the comedian Ricky Gervais squared up to Anthea Turner’s property developer hubby, Grant Bovey, in a memorable televised boxing match. It was incredibly compelling viewing that left the viewer with a tricky dilemma: ie, choosing which face they wanted to take most blows.
The Gervais v Bovey fight has also proved to be a good way for City observers to explain the kind of corporate battle that is short on heroes: hence the introductions to this week’s matchup, where watchers are being asked to support either a group of MPs or, er, Mike Ashley and Sports Direct.
So far both groups have received bloody noses. Ashley says he’s too busy to appear in front of the Scottish affairs committee – which wants him to explain his group’s treatment of staff at its USC business in Scotland and the retailer’s use of zero-hours contracts – so he’s sending his obedient chairman, Keith Hellawell, in his stead.
The MPs have been provoked by that jab and retaliated by publishing their correspondence with the retailer – which counters that it might sue.
All of which sets us up nicely for Westminster v Hellawell, albeit with a caution. In 2002, the BBC’s John Pienaar and Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley were due to fight after Gervais v Bovey, only for the series to be cancelled. Similarly, some MPs fear Hellawell might not now show.
HSBC bosses come over all talkative
Last week we reported that former HSBC boss Lord Green was to appear as part of the Cambridge Theological Federation’s Lent lecture series (while fully expecting him to duck the event). He had previously kept schtum regarding all the fuss over HSBC encouraging tax dodgers under his command. But to his credit he showed up – and even talked of his “dismay and deep regret” about what happened. Hours later, in fresh extracts from his first public comments since the scandal broke, Green was again quoted talking about how he had “plainly not” been asleep at the wheel .
Enough already? Well, another chance to hear from one of the venerable bank’s leaders will present itself this week. HSBC’s chairman, Douglas Flint, will be trotted out to give a speech on Tuesday, but despite the assured friendly audience (a financial services conference, rather than a love-in at the Daily Telegraph) the bank has still taken the precaution of sponsoring the event.
Still, does the sudden loquaciousness of HSBC bosses suggest a new communicative approach and PR strategy? The world’s vocal bank, as its ads (almost) used to say.
Business as usual in Cambridge
While HSBC continues to explain itself over how it assisted clients to become more and more tax efficient, the remainder of the industry is getting on with business as usual.
This week will see the start of the Chartered Institute of Taxation’s spring conference at Queens’ College, Cambridge. This college spans both sides of the river Cam with, perhaps fittingly, one section referred to as the “light side” as the other is colloquially known as the “dark side”. Expect a raucous time – as those crazy number-crunchers are booking in for a residential session over three days.
If you fancy popping along, it will cost you £665 (a tax-deductible expense), albeit with “en suite bathrooms allocated on a first-come, first-served basis”. The PR guff finally grabs you with promises of “a range of topical lectures presented by leading tax speakers”, which raises the question: do these timely addresses include thoughts on the industry changing the way it works?
The top four issues on the conference agenda read: Tax investigations – getting the best outcome on a HMRC enquiry; Private client and trust update; Top 10 risk areas for tax practices; and Tax-efficient business structures for owner managers. Perhaps not, then.
