This is what the Tories are really like

StevieJ

tomterm8 wrote: »

Maybe this is just the cynic in me, but is there anything stopping them setting the charity up so his relatives remain in substantial control of the money, earning a very good salary, and using the charity funds to buy power and politicians?

Historically speaking, very rich individuals have used trusts, charities, and etc to bind up the money so their idiotic decendants can't waste it all.

It is funny how people struggle to understand that some acts are simply done for the good of mankind, here is a tale from Liverpool in the early 19th century, high unemployment turning one entrepreneur into a raving Keynesian, but still to this day his motives are doubted. Some even suggest he was an early member of our resident doomer clan In any case a fascinating tale.

http://www.williamsontunnels.com/visit.htm

shortchanged_2

ultrawomble wrote: »

I thought that applied to taxpayers

:rotfl::rotfl:

tr3mor

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

I have no opinion on Ashcroft, unlike the BBC who have totally ignored & have always ignored Blairs avoidance.

I'm not bothered about Ashcroft either. I just disagree with the whole point of this thread that all Tories are money-grubbing gits who don't give a stuff about their fellow man.

Old_Slaphead

tr3mor wrote: »

I suppose you're right, he is an evil b*stard Tory afterall.

It's not like anything good has ever come from, say, founding Crimestoppers.

Dunno ??? Did ADT get any big contracts out of it ?

chewmylegoff

lostinrates wrote: »

Civic duty?

there is a civic duty to pay tax - but there is no civic duty to pay more tax than you are legally obliged to. you don't decide that you would like to pay 50% tax instead of 20% just to help the country out.

the country sets a tax regime. anyone with half a brain will pay the least tax possible under that regime (unless they have to pay more in fees and charges than they would save in tax of course). this should not even really be called "avoidance" although that is how it is often termed - it is simply paying the required amount of tax under the current tax system.

if people don't like it, they should be saying how stupid the tax system is an how it should be reformed and simplified to ensure there is no option to legally pay less tax. however, this doesn't generally come at the top of people's agenda, hence it hasn't happened.

Pete111

ukcarper wrote: »

It might be but when you’re earning £15k a year and some millionaire is paying less tax than you are it does grind a bit.

I do get this (though my understanding is he will now pay a rather large chunk of tax each year so the above is unlikely going forward)

However as others have pointed out his money provides lots of employment and income for UK PLC via other channels. Hey, if his accountants are UK based, they are spending his money in the UK right?!;)

Also, at the end of the day him being rich and legally avoiding some tax will still ultimately result in a large net gain for the UK. compare and contrast this to that unemployable little scrot who has fathered 10-15 kids by as many women who adds nothing to society but whos actions will cost the tax payer at least 2 million in benefits (and thats before half those kids inevitably go off the rails...)

Sorry, but I just can't get upset about someone making a large amount of money and then figuring out the best (legal) way to hang onto it for him and his family...

1984ReturnsForReal_2

Pete111 wrote: »

I do get this (though my understanding is he will now pay a rather large chunk of tax each year so the above is unlikely going forward)

However as others have pointed out his money provides lots of employment and income for UK PLC via other channels. Hey, if his accountants are UK based, they are spending his money in the UK right?!;)

Also, at the end of the day him being rich and legally avoiding some tax will still ultimately result in a large net gain for the UK. compare and contrast this to that unemployable little scrot who has fathered 10-15 kids by as many women who adds nothing to society but whos actions will cost the tax payer at least 2 million in benefits (and thats before half those kids inevitably go off the rails...)

Sorry, but I just can't get upset about someone making a large amount of money and then figuring out the best (legal) way to hang onto it for him and his family...

Nonsense argument & full of holes on every level.

Pete111

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Nonsense argument & full of holes on every level.

Nonsense riposte full of...well nothing at all really.

carolt

Generali wrote: »

You'd all do it if you could.

No, I know I absolutely wouldn't.

Would you really?

I can understand people who are hard-up and need every penny trying to use every (legal) loophole to save tax. I cannot even begin to understand why someone who is already a multi-millionaire and who doesn't need a penny of this money can do this with a clear conscience - especially after publicly stating he would do the opposite.

More than that, it really sticks in my gullet that just at the time when we are all facing cuts everywhere, are being told that we must all accept higher taxes/worse public services in order to pay for the country's deficit, that someone is denying the public purse a massive 3.4 million quid. That would save a lot of public sector jobs, pay for a lot of schools' buildings, keep libraries/hospitals open etc etc.

I'm sick of reading about all the ways that we, the ordinary taxpayers, have to tighten our belts, whilst the super-rich Tories - who are spouting this at us - suffer none of the pain they are inflicting on us themselves. Like generals in WWI, telling their soldiers to go over the top from their cushy offices far removed from the front line.

I'd like to see the Tories leading by example.

I have a feeling this 'austerity' drive is going to rather resemble the infamous 'Back to Basics' campaign of the 90s - memorable chiefly for the blatant hypocrisy of the Tories.

Malcolm.

Surely the argument is that the laws on trust should be tightened up rather than witch hunt the individual. It's not just him, Tony Blair moved wealth into trust for his children in order to escape tax.

Rather than complain about the individual, go after the system.

One of those internet petitions or something...