Politicians' Tax Returns

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has let it be known that he is "very relaxed" about publishing his tax returns and believes the "time is coming" for politicians to be more open about their personal finances.

That sounds all very nice and "open", until that is you actually think things through and realise that at tax return does not show background wealth (eg trusts, inheritance etc). You only have to look at the ongoing spat that erupted between Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone over the "accuracy", or otherwise, of their recently published tax returns to see how such "openness" achieves nothing.

Politicians who claim that they are "relaxed" about publishing their tax returns are playing to the gallery and are being disingenuous, their tax returns will reveal little more about their true wealth.