ICAEW.com works better with JavaScript enabled.

ICAEW makes business tax case at Labour Conference

Author: ICAEW Insights

Published: 30 Sep 2024

Members of ICAEW’s leadership team were among those given the opportunity to lay out recommendations for a business tax roadmap to key Cabinet figures at the Labour Party Conference.

ICAEW CEO Alan Vallance discussed recommendations for a business tax roadmap with a number of ministers from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) while attending the Labour Party Conference along with Iain Wright, Managing Director, Reputation and Influence, and President Malcolm Bacchus. 

As part of the business day at the conference, Vallance and Wright were guests for “fireside chats” with the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP.

At an event sponsored by ICAEW and organised by the Fabian Society, Wright appeared with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds on a panel to discuss the future of business in the UK. Zumo CEO Davina Paul and the Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, were also present. 

The panel covered issues such as SME policy, regulation and investment. Wright spoke about the importance of a good relationship between workers and business owners when it comes to innovation, creativity and growth. He pointed out that the investment summit in October will be an important milestone for the government.

The conference offered opportunities to build new relationships with the government. Vallance met the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Livermore at a breakfast event organised by Lansons. They discussed tax reform, the government’s industrial strategy, and the role of chartered accountants in helping the UK economy achieve the government’s stated aim of having the highest growth in the G7.

ICAEW also organised an event alongside the Labour Party Conference to hear from local members about their experiences running businesses in Liverpool and across the North West of England. The event took place at KPMG’s Liverpool office, a short walk from the conference centre. Local members cited problems with recruitment, the need for higher investment in infrastructure, and regulatory change as their main concerns.

“There was a real air of optimism at the Labour Party Conference,” says Vallance. “We talked to ministers, stakeholders and others about the aims of the new government: getting a deeper understanding, but also sharing the power of chartered accountants and how we can make a difference to the future of the UK.”

ICAEW will attend the Conservative Party's Autumn Conference, which takes place from 29 September until 2 October in Birmingham. 

Budget 2024

Read ICAEW's analysis ahead of the Chancellor's announcements and register to attend a free Tax Webinar on 1 November reflecting on the announcements.

The UK's Houses of Parliament, focusing on Big Ben.
ICAEW's PolicyTeam

To find out more about the work that ICAEW’s Policy team undertake on your behalf, please get in touch.

Latest consultations

Further support

Policy
Manifesto 2024: ICAEW's vision for a renewed and resilient UK
Recommendations to government

ICAEW outlines its vision for a renewed and resilient UK economy and a series of policy recommendations for the government.

Read more
Get involved
Business people talking
ICAEW member insights

Views, opinions and experiences from our ICAEW members are used to help shape ICAEW content and inform policy positions and recommendations.

See the latest Share your insights
ICAEW support
A group of people in a meeting room with their laptops, woman at the whiteboard with sticky notes
Training and events

Browse upcoming and on-demand ICAEW events and webinars offering support on technical areas, such as assurance, reporting and tax, as well as personal development.

See what's coming up A-Z of CPD courses
Open AddCPD icon

Add Verified CPD Activity

Introducing AddCPD, a new way to record your CPD activities!

Log in to start using the AddCPD tool. Available only to ICAEW members.

Add this page to your CPD activity

Step 1 of 3
Download recorded
Download not recorded

Please download the related document if you wish to add this activity to your record

What time are you claiming for this activity?
Mandatory fields

Add this page to your CPD activity

Step 2 of 3
Mandatory field

Add activity to my record

Step 3 of 3
Mandatory field

Activity added

An error has occurred
Please try again

If the problem persists please contact our helpline on +44 (0)1908 248 250