Industry veteran blasts amateur decisions made in Whitehall
Frontier founder David Braben has described the current Labour Government as ‘bankers at heart’, suggesting that the overriding problem is that MPs don’t care about the game industry.
Braben made his comments in a lively Develop opinion piece following the news that the Government is not yet persuaded by ongoing arguments for game tax breaks.
“The Government may have said it’s not convinced by tax break proposals, but it’s been saying that for three years now,” said the decorated game industry veteran.
“They keep asking for a more in-depth report proposing for tax breaks, we keep giving it to them.
“Despite the government’s public protestations, I don’t think the individuals involved in this actually care, really. That’s the bottom line. MPs don’t care.”
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Braben said he wasn’t surprised by the current cabinet’s decision to ignore calls for game tax breaks, claiming that the administration has failed in a number of key areas.
“Obviously you hope that the UK Government has done something sensible, but if you look at what they’ve done in every sector – the way the steel industry is being handled, the way the banking sector is being mismanaged, the way the bonus fiasco is only being handled only now – it’s just all very amateur.”
So why not try to SELL it to the Government in a better way and take some responsibility off them as taxpayers?
What they need right now is as much money ASAP to boost tax income.
So why not strike a deal where games companies pay MORE tax over the next 3 years, but then get a guaranteed rebate (hopefully) after the government has recovered.
That way, the games industry can be recognized as a sector that can help rebuild a country's economy instead of the whiny child that's got its hand out for tax credits just because the kid across the pond's has them!
I understand the article, but why that picture? And who is it of? (BTW it's not Braben)
The image is Peter Capaldi, in his role of Malcolm Tucker, the incredibly sweary spin doctor in "The Thick of It".
Fuckity-bye bye. :)
Braben actually asked me to draw some comparison between the current cabinet and The Thick Of It, which is a show he really loves.
He hasn't seen the last two episodes, so spoilers will be deleted!
This Labour government has been bad for all small businesses not just our one.
I can't be the only person considering voting Tory for the first time because I hate them so much.
We would not need these tax breaks so badly if they did not force us to run our businesses like we are a sub department of the civil service where everyone has as career for life including pensions, health and safety, maternity leave etc.
We make games one at a time each one is a different economic proposition requiring different types and levels and employees at different times.
The way to make a country rich is to generate PROFIT not turnover... that means exports exceeding imports.. and homemade products dominating the UK market
Maybe refunding VAT back to British product orignator(s) from the cost of british produced products sold in the UK would be a nice touch.
Or charging extra import tax on foreign produced products here to reduce their relative sales volumes (like they do in parts of eastern europe)
By the way David is not winging out of turn, he remembers when we were one of the dominant countries in games development and publishing no so long ago.. before the goverment tied our hands and threw our advantage away.
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