OT: Oh no, not politics again (PLEASE DON'T LOOK IF EASILY OFFENDED)

[them0uf]

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?

[Mapperleypie]

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?

Excellent post.

Turns out that most of the 'patriotism' on show doesn't stretch to contributing their fair share to society

[JoePass]

Excellent post.

Turns out that most of the 'patriotism' on show doesn't stretch to contributing their fair share to society

Speak for yourself.

[i961pie]

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?

Everything you say is true but Sid and his mate BFP want to turn it into a political point scoring as usual.

[the_anticlough]

Everything you say is true but Sid and his mate BFP want to turn it into a political point scoring as usual.

It quickly becomes a political point all by itself - a fair amount of that untaxed money comes back as contributions to the tory party coffers

[JoePass]

It quickly becomes a political point all by itself - a fair amount of that untaxed money comes back as contributions to the tory party coffers

I have no problem with that.

[i961pie]

It quickly becomes a political point all by itself - a fair amount of that untaxed money comes back as contributions to the tory party coffers

So none of this was happening during Blairs 10 years in government then?

[the_anticlough]

So none of this was happening during Blairs 10 years in government then?

You're wrong, of course it was happening. But for 'Blair' read tory and I'd mention the scale, but it's wrong whether its 5 million or 50 million. Even Osborne called them ''leeches on society''.

I'd hazard a guess that nobody on here banks in the Cayman Islands (maybe one or two in Jersey but that'll be it!) Probably 99% of Notts fans have contributed to the state through PAYE for all they've earned for all their lives. Only the sick-minded can support those privileged few who avoid contributing through tax avoidance scams.

[i961pie]

You're wrong, of course it was happening. But for 'Blair' read tory and I'd mention the scale, but it's wrong whether its 5 million or 50 million. Even Osborne called them ''leeches on society''.

I'd hazard a guess that nobody on here banks in the Cayman Islands (maybe one or two in Jersey but that'll be it!) Probably 99% of Notts fans have contributed to the state through PAYE for all they've earned for all their lives. Only the sick-minded can support those privileged few who avoid contributing through tax avoidance scams.

I wasn't wrong it was a rhetorical question. Blair was elected as leader of the Labour party the most successful of all time, says it all really.

[the_anticlough]

I wasn't wrong it was a rhetorical question. Blair was elected as leader of the Labour party the most successful of all time, says it all really.

It says nothing actually, about what we were talking about - offshore tax evasion and political funding of conservative political projects from these sources.

And 'Blair was elected leader of the Labour Party'!? Didn't know that, I'd always thought he'd won the position in a tombola.