Former Conservative MP Jane Ellison, who was financial secretary to the Treasury in the previous government and heavily involved in the Making Tax Digital programme, is one of the casualties of a tumultuous election night, losing her seat in Battersea following a 9% swing to the Labour candidate
The London MP had a majority of almost 8,000 at the last election, having first won the Battersea seat in 2010 with a majority of around 6,000.
But last night Labour candidate Marsha De Cordova took 25,292 votes to Ellison's 22,876 - a majority of 2,416.
Ellison took over from David Gauke in the role as financial secretary in Theresa May’s first government. Unlike Gauke, she had no direct tax experience, and was previously parliamentary under secretary of state for public health at the Department of Health from October 2013 until July 2016, when she took on responsibility for strategic oversight of the UK tax system, as well as personal savings and pensions policy in the new Theresa May government.
Prior to becoming an MP, Ellison worked for John Lewis in marketing roles, joining from university having studied philosophy, economics and politics (PPE) at Oxford. She also served as a local councillor on two separate occasions in the London Borough of Barnet.
During her time as financial secretary, Ellison announced tougher penalties on tax avoidance, oversaw the introduction of Making Tax Digital and pledged to maintain ‘a steady, predictable tax regime’.
The change of ministers at the Treasury will undoubtedly have repercussions, particularly over the rollout of Making Tax Digital.
Tina Riches, national tax partner at accountants Smith & Williamson, said: ‘Not only do we have a hung parliament, but we will have a new financial secretary to the Treasury,’
‘Given that Jane Ellison, who as the previous post holder had embraced the role, has lost her parliamentary seat, we will no doubt have a period of uncertainty while a new minister is appointed and gets up to speed in providing strategic oversight of the UK tax system.’
