Gransnet forums

News & politics

Poor Jeremy Hunt

(35 Posts)
trisher Sun 21-Apr-19 20:18:17

his accountant has let him down by forgetting to register his interest in a company which bought 7 flats at a knock-down price. This of course had nothing to do with his relationship with the flats developer who just happened to have donated £50,000 to Mr Hunt's constituency Tory party. But of course they hardly knew each other. There now don't you feel sorry for him????
www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/18/jeremy-hunt-investigated-breach-money-laundering-rules-luxury-flats

GabriellaG54 Mon 22-Apr-19 22:03:41

It might be an idea to raise the objection with the relevant tax department in HMRC.
Also an idea to get your MP to tackle the inequality by raising the question. I realise that you are not presently in the UK but you have friends and relatives who might help you to get some answers via their own MPs.
It's worth a try anyway.
If it wasn't legal I certainly wouldn't be taking advantage however nobody wants to pay more tax than they have to.

jura2 Mon 22-Apr-19 21:44:35

It was in response to Urmstongran's post:

'It’s always poor Joe Soap taxed at source by PAYE who by default always pay their fair share!'

Joe Soap does not have the choice to avoid tax as you describe, for sure! My point entirely.

GabriellaG54 Mon 22-Apr-19 21:37:34

All entirely legal.
I do something similar myself with the containers I invest in.
Money paid to the Netherlands transferred to Ireland.
If it's legal what's your problem?

jura2 Mon 22-Apr-19 21:23:49

So yes, totally contradictory:

'

Nigel Farage is using a private company to reduce his tax bill on his media appearances, it has emerged.

The Ukip leader diverts money from appearances in the media and on the lecture circuit into a firm called Thorn In The Side Ltd.

It means that last year he paid only 20% corporation tax on profits of £45,000, instead of 40% income tax.'

jura2 Mon 22-Apr-19 21:22:29

You complain, quite rightly, that:

'It’s always poor Joe Soap taxed at source by PAYE who by default always pay their fair share!'

but you think that is OK if it is Hunt and co.

Or indeed your friend Farage, probably, who uses an outsourcing company to avoid tax of 40% on his 'media' appearances and talks, etc.

Urmstongran Mon 22-Apr-19 20:47:14

Sorry I’m missing something (if it’s me).
Are my posts contradictory?

GillT57 Mon 22-Apr-19 20:05:30

Compare and contrast with the sanctioning of benefit claimants if they miss an appointment.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 22-Apr-19 19:46:51

I think you will find that 2% of the population pay upwards of 40% of tax collected.

jura2 Mon 22-Apr-19 18:50:07

Seems to totally contradict your other posts then !?!

Urmstongran Mon 22-Apr-19 11:17:16

Agreed GG13 those with huge amounts of money know how to hang onto it. Good tax advisers must be worth their high fees to those who use them.

It’s always poor Joe Soap taxed at source by PAYE who by default always pay their fair share!

GrannyGravy13 Mon 22-Apr-19 11:05:17

There is tax avoidance and tax evasion one is illegal one is legal but morally wrong.

JH has in all probability got an excellent account who had buried the purchases in JHs set of accounts in the hope that it could remain "hidden in plain sight" so to speak.

Not defending him by the way, as MPs should have a little bit more common sense and hopefully a respectful moral compass????

Mind you if the last 3 years are anything to go by the majority of the HofP and Hof L can be found sadly lacking in both of these!!!!

Mycatisahacker Mon 22-Apr-19 10:53:40

Yep they get thinking they are above the law and personalities in their own right rather than servants of the electorate.

You can see that over Brexit. On all sides of the debate.

Urmstongran Mon 22-Apr-19 10:44:29

You’re probably right Mycat
They probably all start out in good faith then as is said ‘power corrupts’.

Mycatisahacker Mon 22-Apr-19 10:41:15

I think the vast majority of them are on the fiddle though. All sides don’t bear scruitiny really if you recall the expenses scandal.

Callistemon Mon 22-Apr-19 10:36:49

I expect he is so busy with affairs of state and being a good constituency MP that he forgets mundane things like owning flats and whether his wife is Japanese or Chinese.

whywhywhy Mon 22-Apr-19 10:36:28

These are the people who "think" they can tell us what to do! I despair! Bring on the gin and tonic!

paddyann Mon 22-Apr-19 10:32:31

surely the whole point is if any Joe Bloggs didn't pay tax he'd be locked up at Her maj's pleasure ....why IS it different for the (un)Honourable members of parliament ?

Urmstongran Mon 22-Apr-19 10:11:51

Anecdote from Adam Kay, the ex hospital doctor who wrote the best seller ‘This is Going to Hurt. I read it last year and found it funny and heartbreaking in equal measures.

A newspaper article said:
“Adam had a fractious meeting with Jeremy Hunt, then Health Secretary and now Foreign Secretary. JH got sick of Adam’s fans sending him copies of the book and called him in for a chat. ‘He is very slick, very clever,’ recalls Adam. ‘I had half a decade of questions I wanted to ask him but first he wanted to tell me his side of the story. I don’t know why he would think that I would change my mind.

‘When I started to ask my questions he eventually snapped: “What is this, an interrogation? I thought I was inviting you for a nice chat.” ’

‘I told him I didn’t come for a nice chat — I came because he invited me. From that point on it became like that moment you know you are in big trouble with your other half and all they will say is, “yes”, “no”, “fine”. It got to that stage of awkwardness. It was horrible. Eventually I said: “I am really sorry if I came across nicer in the book than I do in real life.” He said: “Oh no, you have been quite consistent.” ’

?

jura2 Mon 22-Apr-19 10:01:58

GG54 - even if we agreed that he has been a good MP and Health Secretary (!?!?!?!) - how would that make it ok for him to have 'forgotten' he has bought 7 luxury flats? Tax evasion is wrong, for him too.

BTW, it seems Mr May's Company is being inverstigated for its tax evasion/avoidance too.

trisher Mon 22-Apr-19 09:35:45

Never hope for anything from a Tory health minister. That way you can't be disappointed.

GabriellaG54 Mon 22-Apr-19 00:40:38

I so agree with you ME and MOMB.
Is the present incumbent doing as well as you hoped?

mumofmadboys Sun 21-Apr-19 22:37:04

JH alienated all the doctors and caused an all time low in morale.

maryeliza54 Sun 21-Apr-19 22:09:07

What are you on tonight GG? A sterling job as health secretary? We are rolling in the aisles?????

trisher Sun 21-Apr-19 22:04:10

A sterling job as Health Secretary Well I suppose it depends on your definition of sterling
Under his reign, we have seen the first all-out strikes by medical staff in NHS history, lengthening waiting times for cancer care as well as accident and emergency, and most recently – to use Hunt’s own words – “probably the worst ever” NHS winter crisis.
Maybe he forgot he was in charge.

GabriellaG54 Sun 21-Apr-19 21:43:18

Jeremy Hunt did a sterling job as Health Secretary and for the longest time.
He's always been available to his constituents and his secretary, Heather, will pass on concerns and respond in a very short timescale.
He is my MP and we are the better for having him.