Virgin Galactic and Richard Branson

Whitewavemark2

Branson’s tax avoidance goes certainly as far back as his sale of companies in the early 1990’s.

He has lined his pockets at the U.K. taxpayers expense and lately the us tax payers expense to the tune of billions.

We paid for that bloody rocket which I would happily see shoved up his proverbial.

His tax avoidnce goes back way before the 90s. He only escaped prosecution because his family bailed him out Branson eventually started a record shop in Oxford Street in London. In 1971, he was questioned in connection with the selling of records declared export stock. The matter was never brought before a court because Branson agreed to repay any unpaid purchase tax of 33% and a £70,000 fine. His parents re-mortgaged the family home to help pay the settlement.
I wonder if he paid them back?

White wave mark... Excellently put and the very same reason why I've totally lost respect for Richard Branson, he also tried to claim furlough, I not sure if he was successful, but all I see in him is a " spoilt, greedy, self-righteous child" who simply hides under a cloak of pretentiousness.

Whitewavemark2

25Avalon

I suppose it’s his money and he can do what he likes with it just like we all do. How many give a tenth of their income to charity?

But the point is , it isn’t all his money.

Some of it is ours.

It's a conundrum, isn't it.

Billionaires have given money to charitable causes or have set up charitable foundations to help the poor around the world.

However, if they paid their employees properly, including those working for a pittance in Third World countries and paid the right amount of tax would there be any need for their so-called philanthropy?

25Avalon

You know slightly off track I am always amazed at how high earners, top cats, spend all their obscene salaries. If I had £100,000 a year I would be more than happy and not know how to spend it all. Some get multiple times that. What do they spend it on? In Branson’s case we know the answer.

I always say that. What do people do with so much money? There’s only so much you can buy. Then what? I think too much money is worse than not enough. The latter gives you something to strive for, and your friends are real. With the former, there’s no point getting up in the morning. You’ve done it all. As for real friendships, I would think it’s constant competition. A pointless existence.

Branson’s tax avoidance goes certainly as far back as his sale of companies in the early 1990’s.

He has lined his pockets at the U.K. taxpayers expense and lately the us tax payers expense to the tune of billions.

We paid for that bloody rocket which I would happily see shoved up his proverbial.

As long as he stays there it’s fine by me. He could take a few more with him.

Sometimes things aren't as straightforward as they seem.

qz.com/2032323/virgin-galactic-saved-richard-bransons-airlines-in-the-pandemic/

25Avalon

I suppose it’s his money and he can do what he likes with it just like we all do. How many give a tenth of their income to charity?

But the point is , it isn’t all his money.

Some of it is ours.

Perhaps he could have used some of his cash to keep some of the staff he made redundant in jobs, instead he begged for government support. Just so he could have an expensive jolly!
metro.co.uk/2020/05/05/virgin-atlantic-makes-3000-workers-redundant-fights-survival-12657264/

25avalon

Great point!
What is little cash for somebody it is a fortune for others

You know slightly off track I am always amazed at how high earners, top cats, spend all their obscene salaries. If I had £100,000 a year I would be more than happy and not know how to spend it all. Some get multiple times that. What do they spend it on? In Branson’s case we know the answer.

This is just another business move and also the natural progress of times

It is clear there is enough demand for this service and he is trying to become the first in this market niche

As for the suggestions to donate money instead for starving kids, clean water, etc, i agree with you but it is not that simple.
It reminds me of when you ask a child: what to do when we run out of money?
The child says: print more!

How about bureaucracy, corruption, etc.
Starvation is a symptom of the type of management/government in the area.
Why those governments are not doing more for their kids?

Richard Branson boasts about his charitable good works but spends billions on himself.
What a monumental immoral waste of money is space travel.

It`s not good for the planet though is it.
I can`t imagine the amount of polution that`s emitted from planes etc
Just wrong on all levels imo.

MayBee70

We could probably provide clean drinking water for the whole world with that sort of money. I don’t understand Branson. It’s almost as if he has some kind of death wish. He just lives off the fact that people, me included, still think of him as a hippy’ish guy from our youth.

I agree with you 100% Maybee. I said to Mr M earlier that the whole world could have clean water for that.
Branson does appear to think that people think he’s wonderful. He obviously doesn’t know what we thought about him refusing to pay his staff when Covid struck.

Infinity2

MoorlandMooner - I’m voting for you for Prime Minister. Well said, my friend. Space taxis ????

Thanks Infinity2, you've made my day.

I wouldn't want to be PM though. It would interfere with my important schedule of faffing about in the garden, drinking tea and talking to the dog.

We could probably provide clean drinking water for the whole world with that sort of money. I don’t understand Branson. It’s almost as if he has some kind of death wish. He just lives off the fact that people, me included, still think of him as a hippy’ish guy from our youth.

MoorlandMooner - I’m voting for you for Prime Minister. Well said, my friend. Space taxis ????

I think it is disgusting how many millions were spent to satisfy the whim of one man. I doubt he funded it entirely himself. The money could have been better spent.

£180,000 for an hour long flight during which you can 'float around and look out of the window'.

Or you can get the same view up on the net from the comfort of your sofa, trouser the cash and not screw up the environment.

That's exactly it MoorlandMooner, he is appealing to the millionaire market and he knows there will be demand. He's not daft.

There have always been people who strive to push the boundaries or human endeavour.

Some discover penicillin or create life saving vaccines.

Others set up space taxi services to nowhere for bored billionaires.

I suppose it’s his money and he can do what he likes with it just like we all do. How many give a tenth of their income to charity?

I'd like to fire him into a one-way rocket. Bet the Virgin employees who he didn't want to pay during the first lockdown feel the same way.

Silly egotistical man could have done so much more with his millions than go for a space trip