The Tax Take: Political devolution in Britain has consequences for its taxation system

‘They say business is a predator.” That was the message of British prime minister David Cameron to small businesses last week. The business critics who Cameron had in mind were, of course his political rivals, who have tax policies which he at least sees as hostile to enterprise and business.

It has been said that politicians campaign in poetry but govern in prose. The reality for most small businesses is indeed prosaic. It ...