Another "good" news story for the coalition, Chris Huhne, the Current Environment secretary, is being investigated by police for alledegably(sp) requesting his former wife to take driving penalty points on his points. Such an act is deemed by serious by M'learned Friends, and usually results in a prison sentance.
To have Huhne out of the way would be a good thing for Clegg and the Coalition, as Huhne is the most obvious rival for Cleggs Lib-Dem leaders job.
For the rest of us it's another example of the fine upstanding people who get elected to parliament.
The Clegg phenomenon and the 2010 UK Election
Since 1410 most Welsh people most of the time have abandoned any idea of independence as unthinkable. But since 1410 most Welsh people, at some time or another, if only in some secret corner of the mind, have been "out with Owain and his barefoot scrubs." For the Welsh mind is still haunted by it's lightning-flash vision of a people that was free.
Gwyn A. Williams,
Gwyn A. Williams,
I have high hopes for this, if there is a proper police investigation it could lead all the way up the food chain to the top of News International in the UK.
As is often the case with these things, it may not be the act itself that is so poinsonous, but the cover up that occured afterwords, and potentially some very cosy relationships between News International and senior police officers.
There is little doubt in my mind that the original inverstigation was cursory, and the possibility exists New International withheld or removed documentation from that investigation - given that new evidence miraculously came to light earlier in the year.
I wonder if the Government has the gumption for this fight given that Cameron entertained the head of NI to dinner a couple of weeks ago.
As is often the case with these things, it may not be the act itself that is so poinsonous, but the cover up that occured afterwords, and potentially some very cosy relationships between News International and senior police officers.
There is little doubt in my mind that the original inverstigation was cursory, and the possibility exists New International withheld or removed documentation from that investigation - given that new evidence miraculously came to light earlier in the year.
I wonder if the Government has the gumption for this fight given that Cameron entertained the head of NI to dinner a couple of weeks ago.
Since 1410 most Welsh people most of the time have abandoned any idea of independence as unthinkable. But since 1410 most Welsh people, at some time or another, if only in some secret corner of the mind, have been "out with Owain and his barefoot scrubs." For the Welsh mind is still haunted by it's lightning-flash vision of a people that was free.
Gwyn A. Williams,
Gwyn A. Williams,
Cameron is not a very good judge of the people he asks to work for him, hot on the heels of his previous communications director Andy Coulson, leaving because he is at the heart of the phone hacking story, his replacement Craig Oliver is now involved in a tax fraud case. In order to avoid paying what is their due level of taxes, Oliver and a BBC presenter (Ms Gosling)set up a company and took Gosling earnings from the Beeb as fees. Gosling then took money from the comany as dividend because it attracted a lower level of taxation than income tax.
Of course the man and his wife are putting all the blame on their financial advisor, completely missing the point that as someone who earns a living from the public purse, they have a duty to pay tax under the same terms as the rest of us.
The fact that the Beeb were complicit in these arrangements does them no favours either.
Poor Mr Cameron, he does have a habit of selecting deadwood, Coulson, Olver, Clegg, the end is listless
Of course the man and his wife are putting all the blame on their financial advisor, completely missing the point that as someone who earns a living from the public purse, they have a duty to pay tax under the same terms as the rest of us.
The fact that the Beeb were complicit in these arrangements does them no favours either.
Poor Mr Cameron, he does have a habit of selecting deadwood, Coulson, Olver, Clegg, the end is listless
Since 1410 most Welsh people most of the time have abandoned any idea of independence as unthinkable. But since 1410 most Welsh people, at some time or another, if only in some secret corner of the mind, have been "out with Owain and his barefoot scrubs." For the Welsh mind is still haunted by it's lightning-flash vision of a people that was free.
Gwyn A. Williams,
Gwyn A. Williams,
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ToshoftheWuffingas
- Posts: 1579
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 3:34 pm
What is very telling about the tax case is that Cameron's second communication director (the first was someone who wired tapped the Deputy Prime Minister of the previous administration and other Labour politicians!!!!) and other top media people chose to put their tax affairs in the hands of someone who was not registered by any professional body. My, my, was that careless of them or was it perhaps deliberate?
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Strictly, eborr, the tax apyable on dividends is income tax. It is just taxed at a slightly lower rate because in most case the dividend is paid out of the company profit which has been taxed under the corporation tax regime. IIRC you only pay National Insurance on earnings from employment and self-employment, so the dividends would have been free from that tax.
What happened was that early in his Chancellorship Gordon Brown raised the corporation tax threshold so that it was advantageous for some people to set themselves up as companies to reduce tax.
In so far as this is done within the law there is no question that the due level of taxes has been paid, because the Crown has no right to tax anyone except as permitted by Parliament. Taxing statutes are therefore to be construed strictly. As Lord Clyde said in Ayrshire Pullman Motor Services and Ritchie v Inland Revenue Commisisoners
"No man in this country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, so to arrange his legal relations to his business or to his property as to enable the Revenue to put the largest possible shovel into his stores. The Revenue is not slow—and quite rightly—to take every advantage which is open to it under the taxing statutes for the purpose of depleting the taxpayer's pocket. And, the taxpayer is, in like manner, entitled to be astute to prevent, so far as he honestly can, the depletion of his means by the Revenue."
I hope we never reach the day when the Revenue can simply assess on whatever they happen to think is "fair".
As I understand the story the fraud element arises not form the use of a company, but rather that fals figures have been entered into tax returns, which is a very different matter.
What happened was that early in his Chancellorship Gordon Brown raised the corporation tax threshold so that it was advantageous for some people to set themselves up as companies to reduce tax.
In so far as this is done within the law there is no question that the due level of taxes has been paid, because the Crown has no right to tax anyone except as permitted by Parliament. Taxing statutes are therefore to be construed strictly. As Lord Clyde said in Ayrshire Pullman Motor Services and Ritchie v Inland Revenue Commisisoners
"No man in this country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, so to arrange his legal relations to his business or to his property as to enable the Revenue to put the largest possible shovel into his stores. The Revenue is not slow—and quite rightly—to take every advantage which is open to it under the taxing statutes for the purpose of depleting the taxpayer's pocket. And, the taxpayer is, in like manner, entitled to be astute to prevent, so far as he honestly can, the depletion of his means by the Revenue."
I hope we never reach the day when the Revenue can simply assess on whatever they happen to think is "fair".
As I understand the story the fraud element arises not form the use of a company, but rather that fals figures have been entered into tax returns, which is a very different matter.
I have a reasonable understanding of tax law but thanks for the additional clarification.
In the light of what you have said there are a couple of things I would like to add.
Firstly on the subject of treating earnings as dividends, any expenses associated with the work could be set off against company profits, this would be at the full value of the expenses rather than as against the taxable portion, secondly the company could choose to retain profits and release dividend payments at the most propitious times., certain other stunts could be used, viz the releasing of "loans" to Directors which would be taxable only in the sense of the benefit of whatever interest rate the loan was set at.
I would also like to emphasise the point that since the implementation of IR35 most contractors are treated exactly like employees in respect of taxation, so whilst Lord Clyde may have come up with his tax dodgers charter it would seem that this is a further way of avoiding paying tax.
I have no real issue with people who work in the private sector coming up with the most favourable tax arrangements, I do that myself, but I think where people are in receipt of public money, as from the BBC, then it behoves them and the BBC to make sure that the right level of tax is paid.
In some ways the Beeb should be seen as sharing responsibility in this matter. They ought to insist that people who are effectively employees are treated as employees and have relevant terms and conditions
In the light of what you have said there are a couple of things I would like to add.
Firstly on the subject of treating earnings as dividends, any expenses associated with the work could be set off against company profits, this would be at the full value of the expenses rather than as against the taxable portion, secondly the company could choose to retain profits and release dividend payments at the most propitious times., certain other stunts could be used, viz the releasing of "loans" to Directors which would be taxable only in the sense of the benefit of whatever interest rate the loan was set at.
I would also like to emphasise the point that since the implementation of IR35 most contractors are treated exactly like employees in respect of taxation, so whilst Lord Clyde may have come up with his tax dodgers charter it would seem that this is a further way of avoiding paying tax.
I have no real issue with people who work in the private sector coming up with the most favourable tax arrangements, I do that myself, but I think where people are in receipt of public money, as from the BBC, then it behoves them and the BBC to make sure that the right level of tax is paid.
In some ways the Beeb should be seen as sharing responsibility in this matter. They ought to insist that people who are effectively employees are treated as employees and have relevant terms and conditions
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nerdanel
- This is Rome
- Posts: 5963
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 11:48 pm
- Location: Concrete Jungle by the Lagoon
David Cameron announces that foreign aid will be slashed to countries with poor records on gay rights. After some vacillation, I have decided that I tentatively support European extraterritorial activism on human rights issues, so I'm pleased to hear this. (Sorry for the Daily Mail link 
- it's just the one a friend sent me.)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... tries.html
- it's just the one a friend sent me.)http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... tries.html
I won't just survive
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
Oh, you will see me thrive
Can't write my story
I'm beyond the archetype
I won't just conform
No matter how you shake my core
'Cause my roots, they run deep, oh
When, when the fire's at my feet again
And the vultures all start circling
They're whispering, "You're out of time,"
But still I rise
This is no mistake, no accident
When you think the final nail is in, think again
Don't be surprised, I will still rise
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Túrin Turambar
- Posts: 6153
- Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:37 am
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria
The thing is, it isn't so much extraterritorialism on human rights as western governments setting conditions for getting their money. The offending countries are quite welcome to refuse the aid and do what they like.
Ceasing to prop up regimes that don't like us with the lives of our troops would also perhaps be a good thing...
Ceasing to prop up regimes that don't like us with the lives of our troops would also perhaps be a good thing...
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Túrin Turambar
- Posts: 6153
- Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2005 9:37 am
- Location: Melbourne, Victoria
I like David Cameron, but I'm not entirely sure what point he's trying to make here.David Cameron says the UK is a Christian country
David Cameron has said the UK is a Christian country "and we should not be afraid to say so".
In a speech in Oxford on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, the prime minister called for a revival of traditional Christian values to counter Britain's "moral collapse".
He said "live and let live" had too often become "do what you please".
The PM said it was wrong to suggest that standing up for Christianity was "somehow doing down other faiths".
Describing himself as a "committed" but only "vaguely practising" Christian, the PM admitted he was "full of doubts" about big theological issues.
'Don't do God'
But he staunchly defended the role of religion in politics and said the Bible in particular was crucial to British values.
"We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so," he told the audience at Christ Church.
"Let me be clear: I am not in any way saying that to have another faith - or no faith - is somehow wrong.
"I know and fully respect that many people in this country do not have a religion.
"And I am also incredibly proud that Britain is home to many different faith communities, who do so much to make our country stronger.
"But what I am saying is that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today."
Mr Cameron said people often argued that "politicians shouldn't 'do God'" - a reference to a comment famously made by former No 10 spin doctor Alistair Campbell when Tony Blair was asked about his religion.
"If by that they mean we shouldn't try to claim a direct line to God for one particular political party, they could not be more right," the PM said.
"But we shouldn't let our caution about that stand in the way of recognising both what our faith communities bring to our country, and also just how incredibly important faith is to so many people in Britain."
Mr Cameron also said it was "easier for people to believe and practise other faiths when Britain has confidence in its Christian identity".
"Many people tell me it is much easier to be Jewish or Muslim here in Britain than it is in a secular country like France," he said.
"Why? Because the tolerance that Christianity demands of our society provides greater space for other religious faiths too.
"And because many of the values of a Christian country are shared by people of all faiths and indeed by people of no faith at all."
link
I suppose that, in a literal sense, the U.K. is a Christian country. The Queen is the head of the Church of England, which enjoys an official status that other religions do not.
But what does he mean when he describes himself as 'committed' but 'vaguely-practicing'? Is he defending 'cultural Christianity'? That is a position both realistic and defensible, but his own beliefs are irrelevant to that. Even Richard Dawkins claims to be a cultural Christian. And it seems to me that some of the values which he praises, such as pluralism, are more due to secularism than Christianity.
I suspect that he's trying to please everybody who might be compelled to vote for the Conservative Party, Christians of all stripes, religious non-Christians and conservative-leaning secularists, while cutting off the social critics of the harder left. I'm not entirely sure if works.
