Billions lost to tax dodgers.

[sinkov]

Yes Sinkov, I agree with you that Labours funding plans for their great spending bonanza are badly flawed as you point out.

I think the only thing we don't agree on is the impact of leaving the single market and customs union, at least without putting something similar in place, as we leave the EU. Both main parties seem happy enough to let this happen, but I can only see a further black hole in our budget forecasts if this happens.
In fact, the treasury itself has pointed this out but many politicians don't accept, or don't want to accept, this report that was actually commissioned by the Government.

Bloody hell 59/60, prepare for government, we're not far apart at all, the coalition could be back on.

We are leaving the SM and CU, that's our official policy, and the EU has clearly stated on numerous occasions that we cannot leave the EU and remain in either. So on that both sides are agreed, despite the bluff and bluster from those on the Remain side who are striving to overturn the referendum result and keep us in the EU by any means possible. (Please note I do not include your good self in this group.)

" leaving the single market and customs union, at least without putting something similar in place,"

I'm in full agreement again, we need access to the single market, we need something to replace the customs union which will facilitate trade between the UK and the EU, whatever you might want to call it, a customs union by any other name if you like. We already have full regulatory alignment with the EU, it benefits both groups to have tariff free access to each other's markets, with goodwill on both sides, although beset with problems and difficulties, it is perfectly achievable. I just do not see the goodwill from the EU side though, wherein, imo, lies the problem.

On the reports, the government has to be seen to be acting responsibly and commissioning them, and of course they can't actually rubbish them, but that's what they are, fit for nothing but hanging up in the loo. The OBR can't predict the economy even 6 months into the futiure, they never have yet and if they ever do it will be a pure co-incidence. The idea that the effects of Brexit can be predicted is ludicrous, there are far too many variables, they're good for absolutely nothing except as a propaganda tool for Remainers, who as they showed with Project Fear are not afraid to make good use of dodgy stats.

[1959_60]

The coalition is closer than we think Sinkov!

But we are still in disagreement on a couple of points.

If, for whatever reason, we don't get the deal that replaces the SM and CU with something similar then I think most people would agree that our nation, and most of the people who live here, would suffer an unnecessary financial loss.

And that's the reason why I believe that the public should have the final say on the deal that is brokered. It's just about the most important decision that the country has had to make in my lifetime.

If we did get the deal that adequately replaces the SM and CU then I would support it. It wouldn't be as good a deal as we have now, but I could live with it.

If we get a hard Brexit deal which leaves us with hard borders, leaving our trade subject to customs checks, import duty and tariffs then I would vote against it. Why should we sign up to something that makes us poorer, both individually and as a country, and diminishes us as a good country to trade with and with less influence ? With just 13 months to BOD (Buggering Off Day) I have yet to see where the serious extra trade from outside the EU is coming from. The opposite in fact. The leaders of big global businesses located in the UK are worried and asking the Government for clarification on what the trading conditions will be after Brexit. Why would they want to remain in the UK if there will be trade barriers with the rest of Europe? And we would no longer be party to the excellent deals that the EU has negotiated with other non-EU countries.

If you were an EU negotiator, and it was, say, France that was leaving, would you allow them to have equal or better terms in trading with the EU once they had left? I think that your honest answer would be "No". Because if this happened then every country in the EU would follow them.

So we are not THAT far away from a coalition Sinkov, but we need to do a bit more negotiating yet!

[oldcolner]

Except if you are a Hartlepool fan!! They have managed to raise enough to pay HMRC money owing, however, the players and staff are probably not going to get paid again so this is just delaying the inevitable, particularly as a local businessman was hoping to take over the club but this has fallen through because there could well be some other financial irregularities involved.
Thinking about it in real terms though ---have HMRC put any club out of business ----or---more to the point----if they have succeded with any actions against clubs ---have they ever got their money --thinking of Leeds, Portsmouth etc.

Wasn’t aware of Hartlepool.
They stitched up Rangers and got them demoted three divisions, they presumably got something from the scraps left from administration. They also killed off the use of Enployment benefit Trust tax dodges which were used beyond Rangers and got to pursue those who used them.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ance-crackdown