July 26, 2012Clegg and Cable admit to cash in hand payments

Nick Clegg and Vince Cable are among high-profile politicians who have admitted to paying tradespeople in cash, after the tax minister said doing so could be "morally wrong".
The deputy prime minister and business secretary said they had paid people cash in hand, as did Boris Johnson, the London mayor. Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, refused to answer the question.

Mr Johnson said he had paid "a lot of cash in hand", while Mr Clegg’s spokesman said he had done so "on occasion but never for the purpose of allowing someone to avoid tax".
Mr Cable said: "It’s perfectly legal and perfectly moral, providing you’re not doing it with the object of avoiding tax." Mr Hunt said: "I have never dodged tax."
Their comments appeared to contradict the message of David Gauke, the tax minister, who said on Monday: "Getting a discount with your plumber by paying cash in hand is something that is a big cost to the Revenue and means others have to pay more in tax.