London mayoral candidates publish tax records

Generali

There's nothing wrong as such with what Ken did: after all, he's really just following the tax laws.

Where I think most have a problem with what he did is that he criticized others for using this exact same loophole/law in very strong terms. Taking the vote from someone is an extreme punishment for not breaking the law.

I would imagine that there are loads of politicians on both sides of the House with limited cos. I would only have a problem if they had criticized others for using them.

I used to use a Ltd Co. I simply followed the tax rules so I see no problem even if following one set of rules rather than another led to me paying lower taxes. If the Govt had a problem they could have changed the rules.

misskool

the guardian publishes a ken comment, how tax issues of the candidates are a distraction to the election process

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/08/tax-london-mayor-ken-livingstone

This comment on the article sums it up!

You're right, Ken.

Tax is a distraction, since the tax affairs of all candidates appear perfectly legal.

Hypocrisy, on the other hand, is central to this election.

It is not a particularly impressive spectacle to see - in the words you chose to use - one rich !!!!!!! who doesn't pay his proper share of tax criticising other rich !!!!!!!s who don't pay their proper share of tax

heathcote123

misskool wrote: »

the guardian publishes a ken comment, how tax issues of the candidates are a distraction to the election process

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/08/tax-london-mayor-ken-livingstone

This comment on the article sums it up!

My god the mans transparent, he even opens the article with a promise of a £1000 bung.

Please let this be the end of him!

Joe_Bloggs

I don't think George Osborne has been particularly helpful with the latest budget. It appears to have too many unmentioned parts that he preferred not to be mention in his Parliamentary Budget Speech. These have become a recurring source of incoming political ammunition from diverse sources.

I suggest that what George and David cannot afford is Boris to be on their tail as Mayor. On the other hand perhaps George and David deserve a good kicking from Boris.

It is all speculation after all.
J_B..

misskool

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/mayor/race-for-city-hall-ken-livingstone-loses-voter-trust-over-tax-7630100.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/05/ken-livingstone-boris-johnson-tax-figures_n_1405547.html

Every news outlet is running with story EXCEPT the BBC

Shame.

misskool

Didn't want to start a new thread but the lack of bbc coverage on ken's foibles is pretty appalling, especially when the guardian is running it.

Ken's emotional video was apparently cast by a PR agency reading a script.

Guardian
Telegraph
Huffington Post