Richard Branson

[Robus]

Why would you want to exclude a major employer from whatever economic stimulus you are passing around? Branson didn't start COVID, and he didn't order the lockdown.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Why would you want to exclude a major employer from whatever economic stimulus you are passing around? Branson didn't start COVID, and he didn't order the lockdown.

He's an arrogant arsehole who dodges paying his taxes and wants the government to bail him out now he's in trouble. If we set this dude up as a precedent with his poxy airline it will be like the banks all over again. Sorry Robus your question is very well framed, but a very large majority of UK citizens cannot stand the tosspot! I certainly can't. Time we got British Airways back on track.

Letting Virgin go to the wall will move that nicely back on track.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Just having a quick look at what else Tricky Dicky will need taxpayer's money for and his shareholding?

Connect Airways (Flybe)
30% (held through Virgin Atlantic)[17]
Travel, Airline
Virgin Active
20%
Health, Gym Chain
Virgin Balloon Flights
100%
Hot air balloons
Virgin Atlantic
51%
Travel, Airline
Virgin Australia Holdings
8%
Travel, Airline
Virgin Books
10%
Publishing
Virgin Care
100%
Health
Virgin Experience Days
80%
Hospitality
Virgin Galactic
33%
Travel, Aerospace
Virgin Holidays
51%
Travel, Tour Operator
Virgin Hotels
100%
Travel, Hotel Chain
Virgin Hyperloop One

Travel, High-speed rail
Virgin Limited Edition
100%
Travel, Hotel Chain
Virgin Limobike
100%
Travel, Motorbike Taxi
Virgin Media
Brand licensed to Liberty Global
Communications
Virgin Megastores
100%
Retail
Virgin Mobile
100%
Communications
Virgin Money UK
13% [18]
Banking
Virgin Oceanic

Travel, Undersea
Virgin Orbit
33%
Aerospace
Virgin Pulse
100%
Business Services
Virgin Racing
100%
Motorsport
Virgin Radio
100%
Entertainment, Radio
Virgin Rail Group
51%
Travel, Trains
Virgin Sports
1%
Sports
Virgin Trains USA

Travel, Trains
Virgin Unite
100%
Charity
Virgin Startup
100%
Charity
Virgin Vacations
100%
Travel, Tour Operator
Virgin Voucher
100%
Retail
Virgin Voyages

Lots of us really did not take to Virgin Care Limited suing (and winning) our NHS for half a billion quid.

Here's an idea Richard, move that money out of your off shore tax haven and sort out Virgin Atlantic yourself?

[sinkov]

They certainly got cheaper energy sinkov. They are flagging motorists down outside our local ESSO and begging them to buy petrol.

I don't get out much these days BT, how much is petrol now, they should be almost giving it away, but I'll bet it's still an arm and a leg to fill your tank up. It's times like this you realise it's not capitalist Big Oil ripping us off on the forecourt, but the government with their fuel tax and VAT.

[sinkov]

Just having a quick look at what else Tricky Dicky will need taxpayer's money for and his shareholding?

Connect Airways (Flybe)
30% (held through Virgin Atlantic)[17]
Travel, Airline
Virgin Active
20%
Health, Gym Chain
Virgin Balloon Flights
100%
Hot air balloons
Virgin Atlantic
51%
Travel, Airline
Virgin Australia Holdings
8%
Travel, Airline
Virgin Books
10%
Publishing
Virgin Care
100%
Health
Virgin Experience Days
80%
Hospitality
Virgin Galactic
33%
Travel, Aerospace
Virgin Holidays
51%
Travel, Tour Operator
Virgin Hotels
100%
Travel, Hotel Chain
Virgin Hyperloop One

Travel, High-speed rail
Virgin Limited Edition
100%
Travel, Hotel Chain
Virgin Limobike
100%
Travel, Motorbike Taxi
Virgin Media
Brand licensed to Liberty Global
Communications
Virgin Megastores
100%
Retail
Virgin Mobile
100%
Communications
Virgin Money UK
13% [18]
Banking
Virgin Oceanic

Travel, Undersea
Virgin Orbit
33%
Aerospace
Virgin Pulse
100%
Business Services
Virgin Racing
100%
Motorsport
Virgin Radio
100%
Entertainment, Radio
Virgin Rail Group
51%
Travel, Trains
Virgin Sports
1%
Sports
Virgin Trains USA

Travel, Trains
Virgin Unite
100%
Charity
Virgin Startup
100%
Charity
Virgin Vacations
100%
Travel, Tour Operator
Virgin Voucher
100%
Retail
Virgin Voyages

Lots of us really did not take to Virgin Care Limited suing (and winning) our NHS for half a billion quid.

Here's an idea Richard, move that money out of your off shore tax haven and sort out Virgin Atlantic yourself?

That's an impressive list BT, be interesting to know how many people his businesses provide employment for, how much tax those employees salaries provide governments with, how much tax his various businesses contribute, and how much tax he pays personally. If you add it all up I think it might even be enough to run the NHS for a year or two.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

That's an impressive list BT, be interesting to know how many people his businesses provide employment for, how much tax those employees salaries provide governments with, how much tax his various businesses contribute, and how much tax he pays personally. If you add it all up I think it might even be enough to run the NHS for a year or two.

Not quite the point though is it sinkov? Supporting airlines is a very expensive and complex issue. I said somewhere the "authorities" want to end globalisation, the mass movement of people and cheap travel. Shutting down whole fleets of jetliners will certainly achieve that.

It's fairly obvious the entire travel industry is now in dire straights, and it's equally obvious no government on the planet can afford to prop the entire industry up. If Branson wants to save Virgin Atlantic he will need to look elsewhere for funding.

I cannot understand how you have any sympathy for a dude who on the first news of a lockdown told his staff they were not getting a dime for eight weeks and would they mind if their salaries went into the "Save Virgin Atlantic" pot?

[sinkov]

I don't give a FF about Branson, I just hope the people working for his many companies keep their jobs.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I don't give a FF about Branson, I just hope the people working for his many companies keep their jobs.

So do I, but I don't think the owner gives a sh-it about his employees, one way or the other.

[sinkov]

I don't suppose his employers give a FF about him either BT, or whether he gives a FF about them, all they want is a job at the end of the day and money coming in to pay the bills. I was concerned they might lose their jobs, you just wanted him closed down with no thought for his employees. But you're supposed to be the 'socialist' ?

Funny old world.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I'm not sure if airlines workers are in a Trade Union, but I really hope they are.