The Treasury has warned public bodies they can no longer employ staff through personal service companies – a direct challenge to Sadiq Khan to change the tax efficient contract of his aide Amy Lame. Khan’s controversial ‘Night Tzar’ receives her taxpayer-funded £35,000 salary (for two days’ work a week) through her company Amy Lame Ltd, a highly unusual arrangement for a public servant. Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke has today ordered public bodies like City Hall to ensure this is not allowed to happen:

“Public sector bodies should be leading by example… From April 2017, where a public sector body engages an off-payroll worker through their own limited company, that body will become responsible for determining whether the rules should apply, and paying the right tax… the responsibility for determining whether or not the rules apply will remain with the public sector body, who will need to inform the agency or third party of their conclusion.”

Will Khan and City Hall now end Lame’s cushy tax arrangement?