Gransnet forums

News & politics

Tax Havens

(835 Posts)
whitewave Tue 05-Apr-16 08:38:06

We can't possibly let this slip by!

Tory on Radio 4 this morning arguing that we can't tackle the "treasure islands" that we have sovereignty over as it will lose people jobs!
I was astounded. So it is fine for the Steel workers to face penury but not those who help the wealthy to hide their money.

DC implicated - won't be long before GO is mentioned.

rosesarered Sat 09-Apr-16 19:14:05

When I read some of the posts by the forums most dedicated Christian anniebach it makes me amazed at the sentiments that come out..... all that about Cameron's little boy [ the sad death of] and that somehow he, David Cameron would be making some sort of capital from it 2 days after the child died? Whaaaaat? What sort of person says that, [ don't answer, I think I already know.]

obieone Sat 09-Apr-16 18:54:33

People deal with grief differently. People shouldnt critisize other people about it, unless it isnt genuine, which I suspect this is.

On the other hand
Saying that he is very proud of everything his dad did - No. I dont think setting up an offshore account is something that DC should be proud of.

Tax havens. Legal, but shouldnt be.
If DC was really clever, he would seize this oppurtunity and try and deal with the mess of them.
If any leader is clever, they should be working hard to deal with them.

The mood in the country has changed. Politicians of all parties need to realise quick.

Ana Sat 09-Apr-16 18:45:10

Deflecting? It wasn't niggly who decided to bring up the subject of the e-mail about Cameron's son - which has absolutely nothing to do with this thread at all!

Ana Sat 09-Apr-16 18:42:49

I agree, nigglynellie. People deal with grief in their own way and it's despicable to criticise someone (anyone) for how they do that.

durhamjen Sat 09-Apr-16 18:42:40

Trying to deflect again, niggly. Cameron does it all the time. I take it back, roses, I think niggly must be related to him as she is always sticking up for him.

Obama gets the point even if you do not, niggly.

It's not what Cameron thinks of his dad; it's not whether what he did was legal or not.
It's the fact that it shouldn't be legal.

Surely you must be able to see that?
I am beginning to wonder how much you have got off-shore.

whitewave Sat 09-Apr-16 18:39:43

I can hear the shredders from here? Although it really isn't funny. It is a disaster for the world.

Ana Sat 09-Apr-16 18:39:16

Ha! Like you never were before? Not even when Blair was in power? Pull the other one...

nigglynellie Sat 09-Apr-16 18:37:00

Why do you find it 'sickening' ab? surely it's not your business, anymore than the way you do things is anyone elses business. We all do things as we see fit, and it's not for anyone else to pass judgement. D.C. was extremely fond of his father, as were lots of us, warts and all. No one's perfect, and we all do things that with hindsight we wish we hadn't, but to try and say that his affection and grief both for his father and his son is false and is being cynically manipulated is horrible, and much as I know you loathe' him, imo a step to far, and if that's being a Christian, frankly you can keep it!

durhamjen Sat 09-Apr-16 18:36:21

Thanks, daphne. I've got my will and finances sorted. We did give a son a big help in his deposit. Only one more year and it's tax free. I own at least a bedroom there at the moment.

I think that the big four accountancy offices in Panama should also be raided, before they get rid of any evidence.
See what's happened; this government has made me suspicious.

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 18:32:55

Will those defending putting money in off shore trusts share their reasons for defending it?

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 18:31:28

He was a PR man Jen

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 18:30:29

Oh dear, he is on about transparency now , but late Dave

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 18:28:21

Did anyone read that email? Why would anyone want to tell people they don't know how they were grieving? Ok a thank after the funeral for the kind responses, but sharing grief with thousands ?

durhamjen Sat 09-Apr-16 18:26:34

He has a problem separating his private persona from the public one.

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 18:23:59

Quite usual to place notice of a death in a newspaper Quite the norm. The child's death had been announced to the press, quite the norm. To send a round robin is not quite the norm. Obviously it is for a few, not for me.

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 18:19:13

Because Ana, I found it sickening , you may choose to think telling thousands of your grief so soon following a bereavement acceptable, I do not

granjura Sat 09-Apr-16 18:16:24

Of course Cameron is allowed to grieve for his father - just I do mine still, after 7 years.

But it is wrong to use outpourings of grief to hide behind what hiw happening with Panama, etc, off-shore accounts. As if grieving makes it all OK - no harm done. Sorry.

nigglynellie Sat 09-Apr-16 18:09:46

FHS, can't the man even be fond of his father?!!!or is that now going to be sneered at?! Why would he not grieve over his son?! What business is it of yours how he chose to inform other people of his little boys death. My much loved step fathers death was announced in a national newspaper as was my mothers, well before either funeral. Was that a bad thing? Are you trying to say that his grief on both occasions was insincere, and part of some sinister right wing plot? I can't believe anyone could be so awful as to think that, shocking!

durhamjen Sat 09-Apr-16 18:03:58

When someone dies, do you automatically think of telling people you haven't met?

daphnedill Sat 09-Apr-16 18:03:19

There you go, annieb - from today's speech to supporters...

'Cameron told the forum he was “very angry about what people were saying about my dad”.

“I love my dad. I miss him every day,” he said. “He was a wonderful father and I’m very proud of everything he did.'

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

Ana Sat 09-Apr-16 17:53:32

And that is reprehensible in your opinion exactly why, Annie?

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 17:31:16

No Jen he never learns. Stand by for him pouring out his grief for his father .

And before I am jumped on by his supporters I say this because of the email he sent to all members of the Tory party telling of his grief over the death of his son - the child hadn't even been buried

Anniebach Sat 09-Apr-16 17:26:14

I do know Caroline Benn was a very strong woman , if she made her will as she did to ease tax or because she wanted to leave her children something herself, I don't know . She surely inherited money from her American family and perhaps wanted to pass this personally to her children, I don't know , no one does

daphnedill Sat 09-Apr-16 17:21:25

Quite honestly, inheritance tax would be the one tax I'd be glad to pay, as I'd be dead when it's due and wouldn't be able to spend the money anyway. I'd actually be happy to have that much money to leave.

Why shouldn't people pay for their care? Sorry, but this makes me quite cross. The people who will lose are the heirs. What about the people who give up their jobs and their time to look after elderly relatives at the end of their lives? Why shouldn't they get more than people whose relatives go into care? Who else is going to pay for it?

daphnedill Sat 09-Apr-16 17:12:24

dj,
You could give your house to your grandchildren, if you were worried about IHT and your children already have houses. Alternatively, you can give your house to your children to be held in trust for your grandchildren. You're right that you would have to pay them rent (although who's to know if they give it back to you ;-)?) If I were on speaking terms with my ex-MIL, I'd ask her how it's done. She also has funds offshore, held in trust for her son, which is how he squirmed out of paying maintenance for our children.

Ironically, what Caroline Benn did wouldn't make any difference if she were to die today. What happened was that she gave her share of the London flat to her children, so that her IHT allowance could be used. These days that's transferable to the spouse anyway, so when Tony died he would have had TWO allowances.

I would imagine the flat and house were worth far more than the IHT threshold, so IHT would have been paid anyway.