Elegran, I'm not disputing that the company is based in Bristol and I'm sure it operates perfectly legally. However, Stephen Lansdown has now resigned. His personal net worth is $1.88 billion. As a private citizen living in Guernsey, he won't pay UK tax on any interest from the money. Giving the money to Bristol sport is better than buying a yacht or an island, that's for sure - I would love to have that option.
What bothers be (and I don't know if Stephen Lansdown comes into this category) is that some very wealthy people avoid paying tax, which could pay for hospitals, schools, pensions, libraries, social care, etc. Given the choice, I would personally want the money to go to public services rather than a sports stadium - I thought that's what democracy is supposed to be about. This might be all well and good if it weren't for the fact that the burden is falling on those least able to pay. Public services are being decimated under our noses and there are people in this country who can't afford basics to live a simple life.
I'm also bothered when money = political power, as it does with Arron Banks. He's made money from the lax regulation of the financial services industry and then uses his money (£1,000,000 of it) to push his own political agenda. I'm afraid that form of 'democracy' rings warning bells for me.
