Are you becoming weary of the continuous media coverage of Lord Ashcroft's tax status? I certainly am. Labour don't do themselves a favour labouring on about it whatsoever. Whether it took Michael Ashcroft 10 years or 10 months to declare his status is of no interest to me. That may sound as if I support the Conservative party which I don't and neither would I give my vote to the Labour party, but don't the Westminster government have any feel for public opinion? We're not interested in your internal inter-party squabbles, in fact, I'm sure many of us are well and truly sick to the back teeth of them. It is arrogant of the main parties to dominate the airwaves with this matter. Can't they understand many of us don't care.
Where are the politicians comments about climate change, the EU and education during all of this? It's a smokescreen for them.
Michael White in the Guardian has realised the public aren't particularly interested and does his best to resurrect the story with 'Lord Ashcroft row: the media are not flogging a dead horse.' Then he continues: The more David Cameron tries to shrug it off, the more people will wonder what hold Lord Ashcroft has over him - or the party.
There's nothing like insinuating sinister motives lie behind the Ashcroft donations is there Michael?
David Cameron is right not to involve himself in further discussion of the issue - there are far more important matters requiring the attention of Westminster.
For your delectation I have compiled a wee list of links, (with considerable help from one of my loyal readers), which concern Non-Dom donators to all political parties. Of course quite a few may be missing because the same 'quite a few' haven't declared their tax status as yet, so if you're not bored enough with the subject by now then do have a read.
Sir Ronald Cohen - (video) and his CV
William Bollinger plus another
Sir Gulam Noon - a most interesting read even though the article is over a year old
All the above are donators to the Labour party.
As for me, well I'm scunnered with the subject. As I said in a previous post Lord Ashcroft has contributed much to British society as well as the Tory party. Does it really matter where monies from to fund political parties? Surely as long as someone holds a British passport that should suffice.
On another matter entirely - wasn't Harriet Harman dreadful at PMQs today? I have never seen her flounder and fluff her lines so much in her desperation to mention Michael Ashcroft in every sentence.
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24 comments:
This is just a distraction. He was actually brought up in Belize. ( Don't know why, as it's a shithole)
The money he earns abroad as far as I'm concerned is his to be taxed at the local rate.
Exactly FE. I never was in a massive salary league but when I worked abroad I paid that country's taxes. Seems that's not acceptable to the UK yet we apparently have more tax (avoidance) accountants than anywhere other than the US.
subrosa
Just in case you can break down your self imposed wall of censorship
have a listen
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/audio/2010/mar/03/ashcroft-hague-conservatives
hague is well and truly kippered you cane hear the confidence epping away from his voice..
and you are a conservative it drips out of every comment every post it is writ large for all the world to see...you must know that?
Niko, you use that labour party trick of repeating a comment and hoping it sticks.
Let me put your worries to rest once and for all. I have never voted tory when resident in Scotland. I have also never voted labour and never would.
Try as you may to inflitrate the right hand side of my brain you're having no success.
I know what I am far more than you do.
SR, I do not repeat the comment to 'make it stick' but for your 'punning', which appeals to my sense of humour.
"Labour don't do themselves a favour labouring on about it whatsoever."
Glad you noticed that one WFW. I was going to say 'excuse the pun' but I hoped my readers wouldn't need my apology. :)
Labour are playing to the press gallery on this. Nobody else gives a monkeys, and besides, as we have seen they are all at it. How quickly the press have forgotten "cash for peerages"
Did you read the Gullam Noon link WW? He has something to say about that.
It's such a non-story, SR, Labour are clutching at straws and they do seem strangely reluctant to answer questions about Lord Paul, who is going to cut and run before he is investigated, and all the others you mentioned in your post. If that's all they've got, they should just shut up - it's going nowhere.
Rosie, you're dead right. I'm fed up hearing about it. If he's got money and investments in another country, surely he should be paying the tax there! Is that STATPORN I see creeping out from under the comments form?
BTW, how dare you castigate the fragrant Harriet. She was lovely and sweet as usual to that nasty Mr Hague.
They spent 30 minutes speaking about it on the Daily Politics too BS.
It's that old Labour trick. Say something often enough then people will believe it.
Statporn on this blog DL? Wash your mouth out with carbolic!!
Oh DL, I'm so glad we have different tastes. I find Harriet's voice shrill in comparison to William's deep, dramatic tones. ;)
Taxes aren't just for 'little people'. They apply to everyone.
There is no public good in our political parties being funded by an unaccountable elite who wish to control our political affairs but not actually pay any taxes.
Baron Ashcroft received his title from Willie Hague on the understanding he would become UK resident for tax purposes. That was over 10 years ago.
I disagree William. Taxes should be paid in the country where the business is generated - even for little people. If you work in France you pay French taxes not UK taxes.
Baron Ashcroft's income is globally generated - he cannot pay taxes everywhere.
If he wishes to avoid his duty as a British citizen then that's up to him. However, he cannot influence British legislation, British government whilst avoiding the fiscal duties of a British citizen. He cannot also casually disregard the condition set for him by the Conservative Party when he received his title.
Though Baron Ashcroft strikes me as the kind of individual who believes he should have his cake and eat it.
You're absolutely correct William when you state 'taxes aren't 'just' for little people.'
Little people have their taxes deducted prior to receiving the money they've earned, at the rate decreed by the State.
Rich people can afford the fee's of professionals to minimise the rate decreed by the state.
Really rich people don't earn anything,they don't spend either. They merely acquire assets which they service and utilise.
Little businesses try to use legitimate avoidance measures to mitigate their tax liabilities.
Global conglomerates employ the MLP
tax scheme - known as the made, laid and paid scam, the purpose of which is to confuse and cloud the tax liability to such an effect that it boils down to the simple issue of minimising a guesstimate.
Can't have the meek inheriting the
earth William; but paying for it, well that's a different thing altogether!
I see you're a fiercely loyal Labour voter William and I thought my post was fair by pointing out the labour NonDoms - some who do affect the legislature.
This is such a non-story William, but labour are so desperate only because this man helps fund the marginals.
Now if Ashcroft were funding the labour party...
All I can add to that RA is I disagree with William's 'taxes aren't just for little people.'
Taxes are ONLY for little people for the reasons you say. The rich pay the pennies, we pay the pounds.
I was paraphrasing the word just as in justice Rosa - the sense is salient.
Ah RA, I'm with you now. Sorry was trying to do too many things at once earlier.
If Ashcroft wishesto support the Tories fine. But he can't avoid UK taxes and they try and effect our political process. That's wrong.
I would agree Strathturret but that has to hold for all Non Doms and not just Ashcroft.
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