Where did the this thread change tack?
And if the Queen didn't pay tax, there would be rioting on a grand scale. I don't expect her to do her own tax returns - like you and I do - but if she isn't aware that her advisors are using tax havens, she damned well should be and she should be arraigning them before her tomorrow. To the Tower with them.
Leaving aside the Queen for a moment, and certainly party politics, isn’t this a question of morality? Technically, tax avoidance remains legal but only really because successive governments of both colours have failed to find a way of tackling what looks to be an incredibly difficult problem. If either party could wave a magic legislative wand it is clear that they would close the loopholes.
One person’s tax dodge is another’s increase in tax or reduction in services. God knows I’m no fan of Corbyn but he struck the right mood when he said that unpaid tax is money which could otherwise be spent on education or hospitals. Might I add to that, providing better equipment to our armed services in conflict which both parties have failed to do (not least the new Defence Minister with his voting record).
Someone mentioned that everyone would do it if they were rich enough. Surely they are the very people who don’t need to do it (leaving aside corporations whose prime responsibility is to their shareholders). For heaven’s sake how much more money do they need, how much more can they spend? I see little Lewis Hamilton, poor mite, felt the need to dodge a few more million. This is on top of him being so proud to be British he decided to be Swiss despite there being no discernible advantage to him being able to do his job. If it would save him a few quid I'm sure he would register as a martian.
Why is it that morality goes out of the window when there is a petty buck to be made? Those who criticise others on here for a perceived lack of patriotism in some matters are perfectly happy to throw that aside when it can be justified with a few bob extra in the already bursting pocket. And back to the Queen. If she has anything about her she should fire those charged with investing her money in offshore trusts. It’s not really about the tax (as someone said, she is not obliged to pay tax and, belatedly in my opinion, offered to voluntarily years ago) but it surely is about investing in Britain. By doing this is her estate not really saying that patriotism is for other people?
Last edited by them0uf; 06-11-2017 at 10:47 PM. Reason: too kind to hamilton, the little sh1t