Tax Havens

I think the bigger picture as daphne is alluding to is very worrying.

Don't forget whilst we are all busy being a bit parochial about the tax avoidance hypocracy, this is happening world wide. The firm of lawyers is only the third biggest providing these services of aiding tax evasion, avoidance, laundering and just plain secrecy. Plus anything else dealing with being on the fiddle.

But the real concern for me is the realisation that there is a powerful group of people in the world sitting in all nations who are not subject to that nations sovereignty and its tax laws, the powerful including the political elite aid and abet this sovereignty avoidance - if there is such a thing- whilst the poor suffer and the middle class pay.
I think this is a worrying and serious problem for democracy.

A wealth management company's view of Caroline Benn's tax planning:

www.claruswealth.co.uk/2014/11/tony-benn-his-strategy-for-inheritance-tax-reduction/

I doubt if the company is made up of 'lefties' intent on whitewashing the Benns.

But loving them is a lot more than trying to understand them.

Who fully trusts any MP?

If this issue stopped being about party politics at all, and about what is allowed to be legal, then the issue would get somewhere.
Can we manage to do that on here, let alone the country?
daphnedill, pretty sure the onus is on you and not the other way round. You might be best off looking it up.

Thank you, whitewave. I'm glad somebody can see what I'm getting at.

Cameron's personal gain is small change in all this. I doubt if anybody would bat an eyelid, if he weren't PM, supposedly committed to cracking down on tax avoidance and has been found out to be less than transparent.

Not so, obie. Cameron would have to prove that I'm wrong.

This has obviously been pounced upon to bring Cameron down. Wonder who the anti-Dave's on GN would put forward for PM. Please not the labour lot, who know nothing at all about financial affairs.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/04/09/the-eu-is-planning-to-make-it-easier-to-own-offshore-shell-companies/

Oh dear. You all really need to read this.
I cannot believe the EU wants to get away with this.
Fortunately there are lots of ethical groups that can try and change their minds.

Anyone else's computer seeming to have a mind of its own lately?
Are we being spied on, daphne?

I would be much less likely to 'play the Tory bashing card' if those who do it were less negatively inclined to those of us less likely to wholeheartedly embrace Socialism. You lot are jumping on a media bandwagon. Its a Godsend to you. Wonder why the Labour party didn't close those tax loopholes? They had plenty of time to do it. Yes you're definitely pushing me into the Tory camp! FYI I voted labour last time. Not now if you're anything to go by.

I am just reading the Peston interview and an analysis of it.

When Cameron said that Blairmore wasn't set up with the view to avoiding tax, he was lying.

All the paperwork was from Panama, which was where it was set up for dollar exchange, according to Cameron. However, Blairmore did not pay taxes in Panama, where it was incorporated, as the base was in the Bahamas.
Another lie found out. There was no need for it to be based in the Bahamas unless it was for tax purposes.

FHS. when is this idiotic point scoring thread going to run its course? As you said Jane10, why weren't these loop holes closed under the last labour government, after all they had 13 years to do it!!! Some on this thread just can't wait, as admitted by dj to find that D.C. is a liar and a cheat. He hasn't broken the law and nor has anyone else. Yes of course after her death we can all pour over his mother's will, cluck with self righteous disapproval, and if possible use it as a stick to beat the family with, and of course those wicked evil Tories. I personally couldn't care less whoever it is. Their finances are their business whether it's evil Dave or saintly Jeremy.

All those defending Cameron is a bit rich when they are intending to vote out in the referendum and will bring Cameron down anyway!

Niggle, we will not be able to,pour over Mrs Camerons will, not all of them. Her husband also had shares in Jersey, no tax and anything willed there will not be public

You have strange views niggle, I don't think Cameron is evil or Corbyn is a Saint, you are the on,y one who thinks this it seems

Looks like that is true daphnedill, but he could still sue you? And gransnet?
www.bmartin.cc/dissent/documents/defamation.html

Nice to see you have posted something against the EU durhamjen.
Dreadful idea from the EU.

No she's not. Its just the impression you all give by your postings. I suspect that this thread is a microcosm of what's going on in the country: those thrilled to hear something they see as negative about the current govt and expressing this with relish and those thoroughly put off by this attitude and rallying to Cameron. The next election should be interesting. I predict the return of the LibDems!

I think I am voting out. Personally I am not much bothered whether that brings down Cameron or not.

Not so....we know that Cameron is going to step down at some point anyway, doubt it would be straight after the EU referendum, if we leave we need a stable government to see through all the changes.If we stay in, it will be business as normal in politics.Defending, well, all most of us are saying is no trial by media please, until all the facts come out ( if there indeed is any to come out.)
Whatever anyone thinks of the Conservative Party.... They have given us, the people, a vote on the EU even though the PM and others want us to stay in.Would we really have had a referendum if the Labour Party were in charge? No, we would not. Voting to leave is our own business, we have a free vote each, and us distinct from any party politics.

Agree with Anniebach, its not the legality or otherwise, it's a trust issue of a man that's in charge of the country.

It's an excellent point-scoring thread.
Believe it or not, not many socialists have done it. I exclude that excuse for a socialist Tony Blair, who lies just as well as Cameron.

I have come late to this thread so apologies if these points have already been made. I see Tony Benn's situation has been raised and posters have quite rightly stated from both sides that it was all legal and above board. Setting up gifts like that for your children comes with a hefty price I believe, unless you survive for seven years from the date of set up. There is a sliding scale for the gift - first three years 80% taxed, then 60% down to 0% if you get past the seven years, all paid in the UK.
It is a common way to be tax efficient to give to your children what you have earned and paid taxes on but can't take with you.
As I understand it overseas accounts in tax havens are set up with the intent of avoiding or radically reducing taxes paid in the country they actually live in. To me that is morally wrong even if legal as it deprives the country affected of income to better the lives of all.
My childhood Bible teachings come to the fore -"Pay unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God." I always understood that to mean you pay your dues to the society you live in.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/apr/09/david-cameron-to-launch-local-election-campaign-as-panama-papers-row-rumbles-on

Cameron still misses the point, a bit like some of the people on this thread.
He said today that he's still very proud of everything his dad did.

It's still all about PR as far as he's concerned; he should have handled it better, he says.

Missing points is a two way thing!

rosesarered, This isn't about the Conservative Party or the BREXIT campaign, although some people seem to find it hard to separate the issues but, as I've explained, the conflation could (for all I know) be part of some dirty Westminster skulduggery. The only people who can oust Cameron as leader of the Conservatives, are the Conservatives themselves, as happened with Thatcher.

From a personal point of view, I would rather we didn't have a Conservative government, but I would rather have Cameron than some of the loons in the wings and what I think or say doesn't matter anyway, because I'm not a Conservative Party member. Cameron needs to watch his back.

jinglebells,

"This has obviously been pounced upon to bring Cameron down."

Exactly! But who's doing the pouncing in the media? Who's behind it? Try going 'off piste' and reading Twitter, blogs and alternative media and there's a pattern emerging.

Even if Cameron is brought down, the government itself won't be brought down, which is what Labour would presumably want.