Cameron Slams Carr, Farrow Rescues Him

Following last weeks tax avoidance scandal involving Jimmy Carr came a very uncharacteristic solemn and genuine apology - no jokes. ITV revealed that Gary Farrow, the Corporation Chairman had told PRWeek that he had personally advised Jimmy on how to handle the situation. Farrow who is an experienced entertainment PR advisor said this, "You’ve got to deal with it and take it on the chin. We’re working around it. It’s going to plateau out - he hasn’t taken drugs and he hasn’t been caught with a hooker. He hasn’t broken the law."

So if he hasn't done anything majorly wrong, why the big apology?

Most people would agree that if they were offered an above board tax avoidance scheme that they would take it. The issue stems from the fact that while people all over the country are being laid off, including medical care professionals, whilst many others are not paying their tax. In this economic climate we must all be responsible and arguably this the Jimmy Carr tax avoidance may have been overlooked if we were facing better times. The inexcuable approach to the apology by Carr as advised by Farrow though has been an excellent judgement call and mitigated much of the bad press.

David Cameron jumped on the band wagon and branded the scandal as "morally wrong" just days after leaving his own daughter in a pub. The comments about Carr, which did not mention the Gary Barlow tax avoidance scandal have become somewhat of a headache for Cameron. He has been accused of diverting attention from the G20 summit by slamming Carr, and also of hypocrisy. Not only in his moral judgements over another, despite his own recent public embarrassment, but in his single minded view of taxes.

If we refer back to the budget this year you will remember that during Ed Milliband's speech regarding the millionaires tax, where hundreds of the upper classes enjoyed tax cuts, that Cameron refused to comment on how many of his Cabinet members were to benefit. He has condoned millionaires tax cuts on one hand and condoned it on another. Carr being a Cambridge graduate, you would have thought Cameron would have gone easier in him. This begs the question, what purpose did his comments serve?