Tax Havens

He never does learn them, though, does he, Annie?

I don't think discussing Cameron is taking an eye off the rest. I have not compared Cameron with Kadafi .

It is the Tory supporters here who bringing up politics, this thread is not about politics it is about tax havens. The PM of Iceland stashed money away and the people of thst country got shot of him. Does anyone think they spent time discussing the PM of the UK? I doubt it.

Some are evening condemning the last labour givernment for not acting on these tax havens, sorry but a pathetic attempt to excuse Cameron. It's no different in defending a shop lifter by refusing to say they were in the wrong and condemning the store for displaying thr goods. Cameron chose to be involved in a tax haven, he released five statements trying to avoid telling the truth. Today he has come out with the old - lessons will be learned yarn

I don't think it's cheating, Jalima. HMRC do.

Fortunately, they are not taking their eyes off the ball.
The investigative journalists who started this are still investigating.

This is only the start. There are lots more companies involved.
All accounyants and law firms have until Monday to give information to UN commissioners. Otherwise, like Mossack, their offices will be shut down and they will be forced to hand over files.

Personally, I think they should inspect everyone who goes to the Davos meetings.

ab not everyone is as honest as you are re wills and inheritance.

I don't know why it's cheating, if you own it, paid for with your own money after tax, unless someone is doing it to avoid paying for care in their old age.

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.

I agree with whitewave and I think that pointing the finger at any one politician or our PM is taking our eye off the total picture which is extremely disturbing.

It is the honest people in the middle trying to support the poor and those less fortunate by dutifully paying their taxes who are carrying the burden.

It's only above the IHT threshold, but it's also to do with how you give it away.
No point in me swapping homes with my kids, because their's are bigger and worth more, but we are all within the threshold.
If you give a house to your children, you have to pay them rent, otherwise it's cheating.

Devorgilla - or anyone who may know
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.

If those gifts come below the inheritance tax threshold is the tax still payable as it is a gift, or is it discounted because it is below the IH threshold?

Obviously, I realise that for the wealthy like the Benns and Camerons et al they are way above the IH threshold, but for the 'ordinary people' who are not above that threshold what rules apply re gifts to children?

God help us!

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.

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.

Missing points is a two way thing!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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

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

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.