Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Forget Paul Ryan, it’s Cruz or bust for the NeverTrump camp

124»

Comments

  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    I'm afraid that I'm almost agreeing with you here.
    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    What the left thinks about offshore havens is irrelevant.

    Its what the aspirational middle classes think that counts. I reckon many are utterly sick of being tax soaked by the wealthy elite to pay for their consciences.

    Quite.

    " David Cameron yesterday named the massive increase in Britain’s foreign aid budget as his ‘proudest achievement’ in Government."

    Sickening.
    As I have said before the Liberal Democrats won the war. Cameron isn't the heir to Blair, he is the heir to Clegg.
  • TheWhiteRabbitTheWhiteRabbit Posts: 12,454
    edited April 2016

    Ned Donovan
    Corbyn uses a lot of different terms in this sentence but none of them are right. https://t.co/9afXifiaMq

    Jeremy Corbyn: "They’re British Crown dependent territories therefore surely there has to be an observance of UK tax law."

    British Crown dependencies are the Bailiwicks of Jersey &Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. British Overseas Territories are the Caribbean ones.

    You would have thought he would run this kind of stuff past somebody to check he gets the right terms wouldn't you?
    Also, we dictate which laws are promulgated to the BVI, including many tax ones...

    I'm not sure there's any suggestion the BVI has failed to do what it has been asked to do, beyond the odd bureaucratic negligence.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    chestnut said:

    taffys said:

    What the left thinks about offshore havens is irrelevant.

    Its what the aspirational middle classes think that counts. I reckon many are utterly sick of being tax soaked by the wealthy elite to pay for their consciences.

    These stories are the staple diet of certain media organisations. They have been feeding them to the public for years now.

    How much impact have they really had?

    I can't foresee this time being any different.
    Maybe. I think any hiking of taxes for the middle classes from here on in will be a 'difficult sell'.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    edited April 2016

    Ned Donovan
    Corbyn uses a lot of different terms in this sentence but none of them are right. https://t.co/9afXifiaMq

    Jeremy Corbyn: "They’re British Crown dependent territories therefore surely there has to be an observance of UK tax law."

    British Crown dependencies are the Bailiwicks of Jersey &Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. British Overseas Territories are the Caribbean ones.

    You would have thought he would run this kind of stuff past somebody to check he gets the right terms wouldn't you?
    He's not bothered. It's all about populist soundbites.

    As for advice on money laundering and tax evasion, Corbyn can always ask McDonnell to call upon the knowledge of some of his Irish friends. A few of them are rumoured to be expert at cross border money and asset movements, away from the prying eye of the authorities.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    I'm afraid that I'm almost agreeing with you here.

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    What the left thinks about offshore havens is irrelevant.

    Its what the aspirational middle classes think that counts. I reckon many are utterly sick of being tax soaked by the wealthy elite to pay for their consciences.

    Quite.

    " David Cameron yesterday named the massive increase in Britain’s foreign aid budget as his ‘proudest achievement’ in Government."

    Sickening.
    As I have said before the Liberal Democrats won the war. Cameron isn't the heir to Blair, he is the heir to Clegg.
    Europhilia to the extent of wrecking his party, and concentrating on nothing else recently. Liberal metropolitan values. Sanctimony. Green crap (see Tata Steel). Economical with the actualite. Virtue signalling on international aid. Statism. Illiberal on privacy and big brother. More sanctimony ;)
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,967
    edited April 2016
    Wanderer said:


    I think it is difficult to draw an ethical distinction between more or less aggressive forms of tax avoidance that doesn't amount to special pleading. I would be interested to hear an argument to the contrary - ie, an argument that explained why the additional steps in a more aggressive but still legal mechanism made it immoral whereas a simpler one wasn't.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399270/2__HMRC_GAAR_Guidance_Parts_A-C_with_effect_from_30_January_2015_AD_V6.pdf

    From the horses' mouth itself:

    Where taxpayers set out to exploit some loophole in the tax laws ,for example,by entering into contrived arrangements to obtain a relief but incurring no equivalent economic risk then they will bring themselves into the target area of the GAAR.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    Pulpstar said:

    Wanderer said:


    I think it is difficult to draw an ethical distinction between more or less aggressive forms of tax avoidance that doesn't amount to special pleading. I would be interested to hear an argument to the contrary - ie, an argument that explained why the additional steps in a more aggressive but still legal mechanism made it immoral whereas a simpler one wasn't.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399270/2__HMRC_GAAR_Guidance_Parts_A-C_with_effect_from_30_January_2015_AD_V6.pdf

    From the horses' mouth itself:

    Where taxpayers set out to exploit some loophole in the tax laws ,for example,by entering into contrived arrangements to obtain a relief but incurring no equivalent economic risk then they will bring themselves into the target area of the GAAR.
    That is a horse that wants to take more money. I am not sure it can be relied on as the final arbiter of moral values.... you are on a short road to Back To Basics ;)
  • ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753
    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,967
    Indigo said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Wanderer said:


    I think it is difficult to draw an ethical distinction between more or less aggressive forms of tax avoidance that doesn't amount to special pleading. I would be interested to hear an argument to the contrary - ie, an argument that explained why the additional steps in a more aggressive but still legal mechanism made it immoral whereas a simpler one wasn't.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399270/2__HMRC_GAAR_Guidance_Parts_A-C_with_effect_from_30_January_2015_AD_V6.pdf

    From the horses' mouth itself:

    Where taxpayers set out to exploit some loophole in the tax laws ,for example,by entering into contrived arrangements to obtain a relief but incurring no equivalent economic risk then they will bring themselves into the target area of the GAAR.
    That is a horse that wants to take more money. I am not sure it can be relied on as the final arbiter of moral values.... you are on a short road to Back To Basics ;)
    Well it is defining the scope of General Anti Abuse, so not actually opining on a morality (It is useless for a Gov't to do so). It looks like a reasonable enough test that could, if push came to shove, be tested in court.

    It looks like a correct enough statement to me !
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,967

    ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites

    Like Bernie Sanders lol.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,923
    watford30 said:

    Ned Donovan
    Corbyn uses a lot of different terms in this sentence but none of them are right. https://t.co/9afXifiaMq

    Jeremy Corbyn: "They’re British Crown dependent territories therefore surely there has to be an observance of UK tax law."

    British Crown dependencies are the Bailiwicks of Jersey &Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. British Overseas Territories are the Caribbean ones.

    You would have thought he would run this kind of stuff past somebody to check he gets the right terms wouldn't you?
    He's not bothered. It's all about populist soundbites.

    As for advice on money laundering and tax evasion, Corbyn can always ask McDonnell to call upon the knowledge of some of his Irish friends. A few of them are rumoured to be expert at cross border money and asset movements, away from the prying eye of the authorities.
    What we need is a judge led enquiry ;-)
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    edited April 2016
    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,924

    ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites

    Does this mean the BAME voter has the whip hand over the white voter?
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited April 2016
    Pulpstar said:

    Indigo said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Wanderer said:


    I think it is difficult to draw an ethical distinction between more or less aggressive forms of tax avoidance that doesn't amount to special pleading. I would be interested to hear an argument to the contrary - ie, an argument that explained why the additional steps in a more aggressive but still legal mechanism made it immoral whereas a simpler one wasn't.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/399270/2__HMRC_GAAR_Guidance_Parts_A-C_with_effect_from_30_January_2015_AD_V6.pdf

    From the horses' mouth itself:

    Where taxpayers set out to exploit some loophole in the tax laws ,for example,by entering into contrived arrangements to obtain a relief but incurring no equivalent economic risk then they will bring themselves into the target area of the GAAR.
    That is a horse that wants to take more money. I am not sure it can be relied on as the final arbiter of moral values.... you are on a short road to Back To Basics ;)
    Well it is defining the scope of General Anti Abuse, so not actually opining on a morality (It is useless for a Gov't to do so). It looks like a reasonable enough test that could, if push came to shove, be tested in court.

    It looks like a correct enough statement to me !
    The interest bit of that law when it comes to bite is going to be the "double reasonableness" test.
    This requires HMRC to show that the arrangements ’cannot reasonably be regarded as a reasonable course of action’ and recognises that there are some arrangements which some people would regard as a reasonable course of action while others would not. The ‘double reasonableness’ test sets a high threshold by asking whether it would be reasonable to hold the view that the arrangement was a reasonable course of action. The arrangement falls to be treated as abusive only if it would not be reasonable to hold such a view.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,756
    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,923
    Marine Le Pen aides set up a "sophisticated offshore system" to hide money, France's Le Monde newspaper has suggested today.
  • CyclefreeCyclefree Posts: 25,554
    Roger said:

    Cylefree. (Sorry but it was too long for the quote button)

    Excellent. Most interesting. A small thing but I'm not sure the barrister was Geoffrey Robertson.

    I have an interesting legal tale about the BVI but I've just checked and the person involved is still alive so I'm going to tailor it.

    It sounded like him. I could be wrong. The Beeb tend to use the same names over and over and QCs expert in financial matters tend to sound considerably more cautious and, therefore, dull!

  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    What the left thinks about offshore havens is irrelevant.

    Its what the aspirational middle classes think that counts. I reckon many are utterly sick of being tax soaked by the wealthy elite to pay for their consciences.

    Quite.

    " David Cameron yesterday named the massive increase in Britain’s foreign aid budget as his ‘proudest achievement’ in Government."

    Sickening.
    As I have said before the Liberal Democrats won the war. Cameron isn't the heir to Blair, he is the heir to Clegg.
    Cameron isn't the heir to Blair, he's the heir to Blairmore.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
  • runnymederunnymede Posts: 2,536

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    ...but...but...that would make you a climate change denier...! and what would the EU say? or Bob Geldof? or...
  • taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    But the government has lost its brains lately. It isn't trying to balance the budget for fear of upsetting wealthy pensioners. It won't stop pissing money on foreign aid for fear of upsetting Geldof. It's going all German with an insane energy policy that is going to price manufacturing out of business. Basically Dave has got as far he he can on a 'no fundamental objectives' policy. If he is not being competent he is not being anything. This is why when he goes someone from the other side of the party, someone who does have core beliefs (Gove, etc) will win.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Marine Le Pen aides set up a "sophisticated offshore system" to hide money, France's Le Monde newspaper has suggested today.

    Be interesting if it's true. With 11.5m documents floating around it's going to be very easy for people to suggest that their political opponents are in some way involved. I anticipate lots of hatchet jobs being hitched to this particular wagon, some of which might even be true! ;)
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    edited April 2016
    Oh dear me - Network Rail thumps back

    Primly Stable
    Daily Mirror doesn't get burned so much as blast-furnaced. https://t.co/w2RBQGOEKQ
  • ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites

    Does this mean the BAME voter has the whip hand over the white voter?
    It does indeed.

    Without wanting to wind up some more PBers, Zac made huge blunder backing Leave.

    EU citizens don't get a vote in the EURef, but they do get one in the London Mayoral, so what better way to vote against leaving the EU than voting for making sure Zac loses.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,923

    Oh dear me - Network Rail thumps back

    Primly Stable
    Daily Mirror doesn't get burned so much as blast-furnaced. https://t.co/w2RBQGOEKQ

    I think that should have been obvious from the £5 million figure. What does £5 million quid buy you of anything in terms of infrastructure, not a lot is the answer.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    edited April 2016
    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,923
    Good job they censor the internet in China...

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35962326
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites

    Does this mean the BAME voter has the whip hand over the white voter?
    It does indeed.

    Without wanting to wind up some more PBers, Zac made huge blunder backing Leave.

    EU citizens don't get a vote in the EURef, but they do get one in the London Mayoral, so what better way to vote against leaving the EU than voting for making sure Zac loses.
    That seems an odd argument. Saddle yourself with a mayor you don't want for four years because the one you did want supported (but was largely invisible on) an issue which will be dead five weeks after his backside touches the mayoral chair.
  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Cameron is more than welcome to give his own money away.
  • WandererWanderer Posts: 3,838
    Alistair said:

    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
    It's convenient to draw this distinction but I don't see any ethical basis for it.

    We do not, in general, consider it immoral for people to act within a set of rules in ways that were not anticipated when those rules were drawn up. We might think it's annoying but not immoral. Obvious examples are found in novel exploitation of the rules in sport. We don't call that immoral but sometimes it's considered harmful to the game so the rules are changed.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,748
    @indigo

    I think you would find people at fashionable London dinner parties are rather less of a caricature than you fear. Some with fashionable, metropolitan views are eurosceptic, some are not.
  • RodCrosbyRodCrosby Posts: 7,737
    edited April 2016
    Alistair said:

    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
    You are right.

    A tax break is something specifically created by the Gov to help you pay less tax, e.g. ISA. It usually also has some other perceived social benefit which the government wishes to encourage, e.g. "saving", enterprise investment, gift aid, etc.

    Tax avoidance is the use of laws in ways parliament may not have envisioned, to save tax. Some of this is permissible. Even HMRC has a collection of "extra-statutory concessions", which are offered to the taxpayer, although they are usually designed to avoid unintended hardship. Some are entirely artificial, and are caught by the GAAR.

    Tax evasion almost invariably involves some degree of concealment or fraud, and is a criminal offence.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    edited April 2016

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    I don't recalling him being elected on a platform of bankrupting British industries with idiotic and environmentally pointless "green" taxes. Even the Green Party think it's a stupid idea, because they understand about exporting emissions, something which seems to have escaped the government's notice.

    Anyway, good morning to you Mr N. so unusual so see you hear waving your blue pom-poms in such an uncritical manner.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Cameron is more than welcome to give his own money away.
    Indeed, and like nearly all other politicians of all parties for the last half century, he is also at liberty to argue for the UK to spend taxpayers' money on international aid.
  • tysontyson Posts: 6,120
    I think Watford30 is some kind of parody of white, van, bloke with the emotional intelligence of a tin of Stella.
    malcolmg said:

    watford30 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Moses_ said:

    ydoethur said:

    Roger said:

    "Is that a Panama Hat?"

    The Queen picks another winner

    https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2015/10/21/banquet-queen-a.jpg

    That bar of medals on Prince Philip's jacket is so long it looks like something out of a comedy sketch show.
    He once teased a Brazilian general for the number of medals he wore, suggesting Brazil hadn't done much fighting, only to get the retort, 'at least I didn't get them for marrying my wife.'
    Isn't that slightly unfair on him? He served with fair distinction in WWII, as I recall.
    For the record and balance he was also mentioned in dispatches for his conduct and bravery at the Battle of Jutland.
    Lots of officers got mentions based on the bravery of their men, some deserved some maybe not so.
    malc

    did you escape the great cull ?
    Yes I am classed as client facing/not disposable, today is the last day for victims to be told they are walking the plank.
    I expect there to be more this year for sure , it is a real cull for sure this year.
    You're client facing?!!!

    No wonder the business is going down.
    Thicko
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,756
    tyson said:

    I think Watford30 is some kind of parody of white, van, bloke with the emotional intelligence of a tin of Stella.

    malcolmg said:

    watford30 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Moses_ said:

    ydoethur said:

    Roger said:

    "Is that a Panama Hat?"

    The Queen picks another winner

    https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2015/10/21/banquet-queen-a.jpg

    That bar of medals on Prince Philip's jacket is so long it looks like something out of a comedy sketch show.
    He once teased a Brazilian general for the number of medals he wore, suggesting Brazil hadn't done much fighting, only to get the retort, 'at least I didn't get them for marrying my wife.'
    Isn't that slightly unfair on him? He served with fair distinction in WWII, as I recall.
    For the record and balance he was also mentioned in dispatches for his conduct and bravery at the Battle of Jutland.
    Lots of officers got mentions based on the bravery of their men, some deserved some maybe not so.
    malc

    did you escape the great cull ?
    Yes I am classed as client facing/not disposable, today is the last day for victims to be told they are walking the plank.
    I expect there to be more this year for sure , it is a real cull for sure this year.
    You're client facing?!!!

    No wonder the business is going down.
    Thicko
    behold Emily Thornberry speaks
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    rcs1000 said:

    @indigo

    I think you would find people at fashionable London dinner parties are rather less of a caricature than you fear. Some with fashionable, metropolitan views are eurosceptic, some are not.

    Indeed. How prevalent are pro-green and pro-international aid views ?
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,748
    Indigo said:

    Marine Le Pen aides set up a "sophisticated offshore system" to hide money, France's Le Monde newspaper has suggested today.

    Be interesting if it's true. With 11.5m documents floating around it's going to be very easy for people to suggest that their political opponents are in some way involved. I anticipate lots of hatchet jobs being hitched to this particular wagon, some of which might even be true! ;)
    She lives, I believe, in a very nice chateaux outside Paris. One that is rather at odds with her "woman of the people" persona.

    It will be very interesting if Marion marechel-le Pen takes over the reigns. She is much more business friendly than her mother and grandfather.
  • chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites

    Does this mean the BAME voter has the whip hand over the white voter?
    White British/White English are a tiny ethnic minority in many parts of North and East London.
  • taffystaffys Posts: 9,753

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Cameron is more than welcome to give his own money away.
    Indeed, and like nearly all other politicians of all parties for the last half century, he is also at liberty to argue for the UK to spend taxpayers' money on international aid.
    He is also at liberty to slash spending to end the deficit and then start to try to cut our debt.

    Something he promised to do so that people would tolerate his overseas spending. And something he has utterly failed to do.

  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    tyson said:

    I think Watford30 is some kind of parody of white, van, bloke with the emotional intelligence of a tin of Stella.

    malcolmg said:

    watford30 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Moses_ said:

    ydoethur said:

    Roger said:

    "Is that a Panama Hat?"

    The Queen picks another winner

    https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2015/10/21/banquet-queen-a.jpg

    That bar of medals on Prince Philip's jacket is so long it looks like something out of a comedy sketch show.
    He once teased a Brazilian general for the number of medals he wore, suggesting Brazil hadn't done much fighting, only to get the retort, 'at least I didn't get them for marrying my wife.'
    Isn't that slightly unfair on him? He served with fair distinction in WWII, as I recall.
    For the record and balance he was also mentioned in dispatches for his conduct and bravery at the Battle of Jutland.
    Lots of officers got mentions based on the bravery of their men, some deserved some maybe not so.
    malc

    did you escape the great cull ?
    Yes I am classed as client facing/not disposable, today is the last day for victims to be told they are walking the plank.
    I expect there to be more this year for sure , it is a real cull for sure this year.
    You're client facing?!!!

    No wonder the business is going down.
    Thicko
    behold Emily Thornberry speaks
    But you have to listen very hard, because she is a bit faint coming all the way from the better parts of Italy ;)
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 25,756

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Cameron is more than welcome to give his own money away.
    Indeed, and like nearly all other politicians of all parties for the last half century, he is also at liberty to argue for the UK to spend taxpayers' money on international aid.
    It's just he ignores all concept of value for money
  • Plato_SaysPlato_Says Posts: 11,822
    Well said, I never expected to lose confidence like this. We aren't even a year in.
    Patrick said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    But the government has lost its brains lately. It isn't trying to balance the budget for fear of upsetting wealthy pensioners. It won't stop pissing money on foreign aid for fear of upsetting Geldof. It's going all German with an insane energy policy that is going to price manufacturing out of business. Basically Dave has got as far he he can on a 'no fundamental objectives' policy. If he is not being competent he is not being anything. This is why when he goes someone from the other side of the party, someone who does have core beliefs (Gove, etc) will win.
  • rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 58,748
    Indigo said:

    rcs1000 said:

    @indigo

    I think you would find people at fashionable London dinner parties are rather less of a caricature than you fear. Some with fashionable, metropolitan views are eurosceptic, some are not.

    Indeed. How prevalent are pro-green and pro-international aid views ?
    It's much, much more nuanced than you you'd think. Some people believe in global warming, some believe it's not man made, some believe it is economically damaging to pursue policies to mitigate it, etc.

    Living in Notting Hill, or Hampstead, does not make you a political monolith. It usually just means you are quite successful at whatever your line of business is. And most successful business people are nothing if not pragmatic.
  • MonikerDiCanioMonikerDiCanio Posts: 5,792
    tyson said:

    I think Watford30 is some kind of parody of white, van, bloke with the emotional intelligence of a tin of Stella.

    malcolmg said:

    watford30 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Moses_ said:

    ydoethur said:

    Roger said:

    "Is that a Panama Hat?"

    The Queen picks another winner

    https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2015/10/21/banquet-queen-a.jpg

    That bar of medals on Prince Philip's jacket is so long it looks like something out of a comedy sketch show.
    He once teased a Brazilian general for the number of medals he wore, suggesting Brazil hadn't done much fighting, only to get the retort, 'at least I didn't get them for marrying my wife.'
    Isn't that slightly unfair on him? He served with fair distinction in WWII, as I recall.
    For the record and balance he was also mentioned in dispatches for his conduct and bravery at the Battle of Jutland.
    Lots of officers got mentions based on the bravery of their men, some deserved some maybe not so.
    malc

    did you escape the great cull ?
    Yes I am classed as client facing/not disposable, today is the last day for victims to be told they are walking the plank.
    I expect there to be more this year for sure , it is a real cull for sure this year.
    You're client facing?!!!

    No wonder the business is going down.
    Thicko
    Change " white " for " black " or " brown " and Tyson would be getting a visit from Police Scotland.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,923
    Corbyn is going to try and repeat McMao PR stunt and release his tax return. We all know it will be MP income and that is about it.
  • Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.
    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Telegraph "The Conservative leader promised in 2007 to claw back social and employment laws from Brussels, saying: "I do not believe it is appropriate for social and employment legislation to be dealt with at the European level."
    "It will be a top priority for the next Conservative government to restore social and employment legislation to national control," he made clear.
    This promise built on what Mr Cameron said during a special Question Time debate when he was running for the leadership. Facing off against David Davis in November 2005, he said: "I think that we should have a very clear strategic imperative, which is that we need to bring back the powers over social policy and employment policy that are causing so much damage to British business." He pledged to do this with "single-minded power", citing Europe as his "central concern".

    Yes he err believes and err forgets what he once believed in....
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,905

    ComRes London Mayoral poll

    Sadiq Khan remains ahead of Zac Goldsmith in the race to be Mayor of London. The Labour candidate receives 44% of first round preferences - two points higher than in the last ComRes poll for ITV News and LBC in March. Zac Goldsmith is on 37% - two points lower. While these differences are within the margin of error, it supports the trend that Khan is ahead with a month to go.

    After second preferences have been re-allocated, Khan leads Goldsmith 55% to 45%.

    http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/itv-news-london-lbc-london-mayoral-poll/

    Zac's as dead as the dodo.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822
    Indigo said:

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    I don't recalling him being elected on a platform of bankrupting British industries with idiotic and environmentally pointless "green" taxes. Even the Green Party think it's a stupid idea, because they understand about exporting emissions, something which seems to have escaped the government's notice.

    Anyway, good morning to you Mr N. so unusual so see you hear waving your blue pom-poms in such an uncritical manner.
    What's uncritical about it? I didn't say I agreed with him, I said that it is bizarre to think he doesn't believe what he says. And it's nothing to do with blue or any other colour of pom-pom. Ed Miliband, Jeremy Corbyn, Frank Field, John Redwood, Nigel Farage, Caroline Lucas, and hundreds of other politicians generally believe what they say. In the case of Cameron and international aid, it's actually something which is not particularly in his political interest, so it's even more bizarre to think he's not sincere.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.
    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Telegraph "The Conservative leader promised in 2007 to claw back social and employment laws from Brussels, saying: "I do not believe it is appropriate for social and employment legislation to be dealt with at the European level."
    "It will be a top priority for the next Conservative government to restore social and employment legislation to national control," he made clear.
    This promise built on what Mr Cameron said during a special Question Time debate when he was running for the leadership. Facing off against David Davis in November 2005, he said: "I think that we should have a very clear strategic imperative, which is that we need to bring back the powers over social policy and employment policy that are causing so much damage to British business." He pledged to do this with "single-minded power", citing Europe as his "central concern".

    Yes he err believes and err forgets what he once believed in....
    Unfortunately the Lisbon Treaty was ratified before he became PM.
  • ComRes London Mayoral poll: Zac Goldsmith has 10% lead amongst white voters but trails by 33% amongst non whites

    Does this mean the BAME voter has the whip hand over the white voter?
    It does indeed.
    Without wanting to wind up some more PBers, Zac made huge blunder backing Leave.
    EU citizens don't get a vote in the EURef, but they do get one in the London Mayoral, so what better way to vote against leaving the EU than voting for making sure Zac loses.
    only if they are registered.
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Cameron is more than welcome to give his own money away.
    Indeed, and like nearly all other politicians of all parties for the last half century, he is also at liberty to argue for the UK to spend taxpayers' money on international aid.
    When 40,000+ British old people died last year from the cold, there is starting to be a feeling that slightly more of that money should be spent at home.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12015735/Winter-deaths-soar-as-elderly-suffer-in-cold-weather.html
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    Alistair said:

    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
    Technically if it is illegal due to GAAR then isn't it tax evasion rather than tax avoidance?

    Somewhat by definition there is no legal difference between tax planning and tax avoidance. By definition tax avoidance is legal.
  • watford30watford30 Posts: 3,474
    edited April 2016
    Indigo said:

    tyson said:

    I think Watford30 is some kind of parody of white, van, bloke with the emotional intelligence of a tin of Stella.

    malcolmg said:

    watford30 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Moses_ said:

    ydoethur said:

    Roger said:

    "Is that a Panama Hat?"

    The Queen picks another winner

    https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2015/10/21/banquet-queen-a.jpg

    That bar of medals on Prince Philip's jacket is so long it looks like something out of a comedy sketch show.
    He once teased a Brazilian general for the number of medals he wore, suggesting Brazil hadn't done much fighting, only to get the retort, 'at least I didn't get them for marrying my wife.'
    Isn't that slightly unfair on him? He served with fair distinction in WWII, as I recall.
    For the record and balance he was also mentioned in dispatches for his conduct and bravery at the Battle of Jutland.
    Lots of officers got mentions based on the bravery of their men, some deserved some maybe not so.
    malc

    did you escape the great cull ?
    Yes I am classed as client facing/not disposable, today is the last day for victims to be told they are walking the plank.
    I expect there to be more this year for sure , it is a real cull for sure this year.
    You're client facing?!!!

    No wonder the business is going down.
    Thicko
    behold Emily Thornberry speaks
    But you have to listen very hard, because she is a bit faint coming all the way from the better parts of Italy ;)
    'Let them eat Cannoli', shrieks Tyson Antoinette, sitting in a chi-chi Florentine piazza and lingering over a fresh Ristretto. 'How the little people must be suffering', she laments whilst noting this months 4 figure losses on Sterling to Euro currency transactions.
  • Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.
    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Telegraph "The Conservative leader promised in 2007 to claw back social and employment laws from Brussels, saying: "I do not believe it is appropriate for social and employment legislation to be dealt with at the European level."
    "It will be a top priority for the next Conservative government to restore social and employment legislation to national control," he made clear.
    This promise built on what Mr Cameron said during a special Question Time debate when he was running for the leadership. Facing off against David Davis in November 2005, he said: "I think that we should have a very clear strategic imperative, which is that we need to bring back the powers over social policy and employment policy that are causing so much damage to British business." He pledged to do this with "single-minded power", citing Europe as his "central concern".

    Yes he err believes and err forgets what he once believed in....
    Unfortunately the Lisbon Treaty was ratified before he became PM.
    These promises from Cameron were unrelated to Lisbon ratification. He promised that if elected as Leader and then elected as PM he would "have a very clear strategic imperative, which is that we need to bring back the powers over social policy and employment policy"....
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    It's just he ignores all concept of value for money

    Actually I think that since 2010 they've improved the targetting of aid, but I do agree that having a set percentage of GDP is not sensible (not that Cameron invented the figure, it was already committed to by the UK under Labour and with the support of Hague, IDS and Howard).
  • IndigoIndigo Posts: 9,966
    rcs1000 said:

    Indigo said:

    rcs1000 said:

    @indigo

    I think you would find people at fashionable London dinner parties are rather less of a caricature than you fear. Some with fashionable, metropolitan views are eurosceptic, some are not.

    Indeed. How prevalent are pro-green and pro-international aid views ?
    It's much, much more nuanced than you you'd think. Some people believe in global warming, some believe it's not man made, some believe it is economically damaging to pursue policies to mitigate it, etc.

    Living in Notting Hill, or Hampstead, does not make you a political monolith. It usually just means you are quite successful at whatever your line of business is. And most successful business people are nothing if not pragmatic.
    There is a suspicion that successful people while not exactly "champagne socialists" at least have the luxury of enough spare money that they feel they can support the government taking more if it to do what they consider socially valuable things, or at least things which make them feel better about themselves by being associated with them. The less well off would prefer that money in their own pocket to feed their family or pay the rent.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,905

    taffys said:

    What the left thinks about offshore havens is irrelevant.

    Its what the aspirational middle classes think that counts. I reckon many are utterly sick of being tax soaked by the wealthy elite to pay for their consciences.

    Quite.

    " David Cameron yesterday named the massive increase in Britain’s foreign aid budget as his ‘proudest achievement’ in Government."

    Sickening.
    I don't find it sickening (foreign aid is at least a good idea in theory, if not in practice, so while the policy has not worked the heart is in the right place at least), although it does feel like he's trolling his right wing critics naming it as his proudest achievement. Surprised he didn't go for something closer to universal, like gay marriage (I said, closer, obviously not everyone liked it)
  • kle4 said:

    ComRes London Mayoral poll

    Sadiq Khan remains ahead of Zac Goldsmith in the race to be Mayor of London. The Labour candidate receives 44% of first round preferences - two points higher than in the last ComRes poll for ITV News and LBC in March. Zac Goldsmith is on 37% - two points lower. While these differences are within the margin of error, it supports the trend that Khan is ahead with a month to go.

    After second preferences have been re-allocated, Khan leads Goldsmith 55% to 45%.

    http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/itv-news-london-lbc-london-mayoral-poll/

    Zac's as dead as the dodo.
    Well I might be campaigning for him.

    I could swing it for him.
  • tysontyson Posts: 6,120
    She only said what most people were thinking. Not many people would want a skin headed, tattooed English flag draped, brutal looking chap living next to them. There again looks like be deceiving, and he might have been lovely and sweet- and the kind of neighbour you could give your house keys to, and let him feed your cats.

    The Guadianista, middle England, sandal wearing, allotment tending, neighbour isn't quite as frightening.

    tyson said:

    I think Watford30 is some kind of parody of white, van, bloke with the emotional intelligence of a tin of Stella.

    malcolmg said:

    watford30 said:

    malcolmg said:

    malcolmg said:

    Moses_ said:

    ydoethur said:

    Roger said:

    "Is that a Panama Hat?"

    The Queen picks another winner

    https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/2015/10/21/banquet-queen-a.jpg

    That bar of medals on Prince Philip's jacket is so long it looks like something out of a comedy sketch show.
    He once teased a Brazilian general for the number of medals he wore, suggesting Brazil hadn't done much fighting, only to get the retort, 'at least I didn't get them for marrying my wife.'
    Isn't that slightly unfair on him? He served with fair distinction in WWII, as I recall.
    For the record and balance he was also mentioned in dispatches for his conduct and bravery at the Battle of Jutland.
    Lots of officers got mentions based on the bravery of their men, some deserved some maybe not so.
    malc

    did you escape the great cull ?
    Yes I am classed as client facing/not disposable, today is the last day for victims to be told they are walking the plank.
    I expect there to be more this year for sure , it is a real cull for sure this year.
    You're client facing?!!!

    No wonder the business is going down.
    Thicko
    behold Emily Thornberry speaks
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    taffys said:

    Indigo said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    As well as potentially saving Port Talbot, it would force labour and the liberals to either reverse cherished totems, or look like serial working class job destroyers.

    would be a no brainer

    no brains sort of sums up Dave's BIS and Treasury teams.
    It the same problem as the EU and International Aid. It's the sort of thing that a good chap that wants to be welcome at the right sort of dinner parties in Notting Hill would have as the policy of his government. Dave isn't worried about being unpopular in the country, he is worried about being unpopular in his social set - the liberal metro elite crowd.
    Alternatively, and more in keeping with the facts, he believes what he says, which is what he has been saying for a decade, and which was the platform on which he got elected to party leader.

    It really is bizarre that some people - heavily over-represented here - can't seem to get their heads around this simple idea.
    Cameron is more than welcome to give his own money away.
    Indeed, and like nearly all other politicians of all parties for the last half century, he is also at liberty to argue for the UK to spend taxpayers' money on international aid.
    He is also at liberty to slash spending to end the deficit and then start to try to cut our debt.

    Something he promised to do so that people would tolerate his overseas spending. And something he has utterly failed to do.

    He has cut spending. Real terms spending has been cut.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,822

    These promises from Cameron were unrelated to Lisbon ratification. He promised that if elected as Leader and then elected as PM he would "have a very clear strategic imperative, which is that we need to bring back the powers over social policy and employment policy"....

    Yes, and unfortunately that is no longer possible, thanks to Lisbon. Blame Gordon Brown.
  • chestnutchestnut Posts: 7,341

    He has cut spending. Real terms spending has been cut.

    But not a penny of nominal spending.

    Osborne hasn't made cuts, he's made choices.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,905

    Corbyn is going to try and repeat McMao PR stunt and release his tax return. We all know it will be MP income and that is about it.

    Being personally frugal, it would appear, is one of his more welcome qualities. DOesn't make up for many of the others of course.
  • BannedInParisBannedInParis Posts: 2,191

    Corbyn is going to try and repeat McMao PR stunt and release his tax return. We all know it will be MP income and that is about it.

    Didn't that backfire quite spectacularly for Ken?
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826

    These promises from Cameron were unrelated to Lisbon ratification. He promised that if elected as Leader and then elected as PM he would "have a very clear strategic imperative, which is that we need to bring back the powers over social policy and employment policy"....

    Yes, and unfortunately that is no longer possible, thanks to Lisbon. Blame Gordon Brown.
    As soon as Brown betrayed the nation by cancelling the election and ratifying Lisbon, Cameron immediately announced he could no longer hold a referendum on Lisbon etc ... he was up-front and honest and elected in 2010 on a different manifesto.

    It is just ignorant to imagine that Brown cancelling an election and ratifying Lisbon should have no impact.
  • Philip_ThompsonPhilip_Thompson Posts: 65,826
    chestnut said:

    He has cut spending. Real terms spending has been cut.

    But not a penny of nominal spending.

    Osborne hasn't made cuts, he's made choices.
    Nominal spending is meaningless though. Real terms spending is real, nominal spending is meaningless.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 62,276
    Just a reminder that my book, The Adventures of Sir Edric, came out a short time ago, and is well worth buying:
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adventures-Edric-Hero-Hornska-Book-ebook/dp/B01DOSP9ZK/

    Just the one review on the UK site at the moment (three on the US one). Do give it a look. Those affronted by safe space quibbling might rather like the lack of political correctness.
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 97,905

    kle4 said:

    ComRes London Mayoral poll

    Sadiq Khan remains ahead of Zac Goldsmith in the race to be Mayor of London. The Labour candidate receives 44% of first round preferences - two points higher than in the last ComRes poll for ITV News and LBC in March. Zac Goldsmith is on 37% - two points lower. While these differences are within the margin of error, it supports the trend that Khan is ahead with a month to go.

    After second preferences have been re-allocated, Khan leads Goldsmith 55% to 45%.

    http://www.comres.co.uk/polls/itv-news-london-lbc-london-mayoral-poll/

    Zac's as dead as the dodo.
    Well I might be campaigning for him.

    I could swing it for him.
    Your greatest achievement if you manage that, as he looks toast, and toast that's been dropped on the floor and trodden on as well.

    And I say that with the authority of someone who does not live in London, does not particularly like London, and has only been there about 10 times, so you know my finger is on the pulse.
  • Patrick said:

    taffys said:

    You would think the repeal of the ruinous 2008 climate change act would be a no brainer for any conservative government now.

    But the government has lost its brains lately. It isn't trying to balance the budget for fear of upsetting wealthy pensioners. ....... Basically Dave has got as far he he can on a 'no fundamental objectives' policy. If he is not being competent he is not being anything. This is why when he goes someone from the other side of the party, someone who does have core beliefs (Gove, etc) will win.
    Is it just a problem with the de facto handover to Osborne that occurred in May last year? With Osborne deciding matters that would have been handled by other cabinet ministers we have a government seizing up because it only moves at the speed of one man Osborne. just as happened under Labour when Brown took over. A consequence of Osborne spreading himself around is that he spends even less time on Treasury matters which then creates the mistakes in his recent budgets. In the private business world it is often a problem when an over bearing finance director takes effective control when the CEO/Chairman has switched off and wants to just retire.
  • More Londoners believe Zac Goldsmith has the “X Factor” needed to be Mayor, but that Sadiq Khan would work hardest for the capital, a new poll reveals today.

    The Opinium survey found that 28 per cent of adults in the capital see Conservative Mr Goldsmith as having that special something required to take over at City Hall, compared with 24 per cent for Labour’s Mr Khan, and 26 per cent saying neither of them.

    However, 32 per cent believe that Tooting MP Mr Khan would work hardest for London, with Richmond Park MP Mr Goldsmith on 27 per cent. Just under a third said “don’t know” and 11 per cent said “none of them”.

    http://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/zac-goldsmith-has-x-factor-but-sadiq-khan-is-harder-working-says-poll-a3218271.html
  • John_NJohn_N Posts: 389
    edited April 2016

    What we need is a judge led enquiry ;-)

    Where are you going to find a judge with experience of international banking and commerce who isn't implicated up to his wig in tax havens and money laundering?

    The judges should be in the dock. They shouldn't be entrusted with cleaning up Britain's global dirty money network. That network isn't on a par with one or two guys having had their hands in the till. It's a major component in the global influence wielded by means of MI6, Lloyd's, etc. It's a major feature in how Britain functions internationally.

    Everyone knows you'll be unlikely to find a case of mortgage fraud without a solicitor being knowingly involved. Similarly, you'll be unlikely to find a case of large-scale international money-laundering with a British angle, or the establishment and management of international networks to facilitate such, without senior barristers and judges in London being involved.

    It would be a mistake to assume the ICIJ's action hasn't been well-timed.
  • PongPong Posts: 4,693
    Interesting article, thanks Keiran.

    Food for thought.

    Regardless, Paul Ryan's Betfair Nomination/Potus price is probably not going anywhere any time soon.

    He's pretty much the only guy with any dignity left in the GOP.
  • NEW THREAD NEW THREAD

  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,089
    edited April 2016

    Edit
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 82,923
    John_N said:

    What we need is a judge led enquiry ;-)

    Where are you going to find a judge with experience of international banking and commerce who isn't implicated up to his wig in tax havens and money laundering?

    The judges should be in the dock. They shouldn't be entrusted with cleaning up Britain's global dirty money network. That network is a major component in the global influence wielded by means of MI6, Lloyd's, etc. It isn't on a par with one or two guys having had their hands in the till.

    You'll be unlikely to find a case of mortgage fraud without a solicitor being knowingly involved. Similarly, you'll be unlikely to find a case of large-scale international money-laundering with a British angle, or the establishment and management of international networks to facilitate such, without senior barristers and judges in London being involved.

    Don't assume the ICIJ's action hasn't been well-timed either.
    It was a joke, as Ed Miliband's response to every "scandal".
  • David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    Alistair said:

    Wanderer said:

    Wanderer said:

    Roger said:

    Nick

    "Yes, that's the point. I also don't blame Cameron for his father, and I'm not sure I even blame his father. The issue is that governments generally and the British Governments (of all parties) in particular tolerate a system in which people with good advice and certain types of income can entirely avoid tax, which means that everyone else has to pay MUCH more."

    How can you not blame a very wealthy person for trying to avoid tax? Do you really need the government to teach you morality? Shouldn't you take some responsibility for your own behaviour?

    (Of course Junior has no responsibility for the actions of his father)

    Because paying tax is not a question of private morality, it's simply a matter of obeying the law. If the law allows people to pay less tax then it's not immoral for them to take advantage.

    If we think this kind of activity is objectionable it is our governments we to need look to.
    Isn't it quite possible to obey the letter of the law while also being immoral? I'm sure most massive tax avoiders will consider being called 'immoral' by the powerless as a price well worth paying.
    Yes, things can be legal but immoral. Cheating on your partner, for example.

    I don't think legal tax avoidance falls into that category primarily because the obligation to pay tax in the first place is legal, not moral. That's to say, if there were no taxes at all (say, if the state financed its activities by selling carpets) there would be no moral obligation to donate money to the state. I think it's also interesting that people do not instinctively feel that small scale legal tax avoidance is immoral. If you told me you had an ISA I wouldn't look askance at you.

    I would also say that paying tax is part of the individual's relationship with the state and that we should regulate that relationship by law, not by appeals to personal morality or name-and-shame.

    None of this implies that we shouldn't raise taxes or close loopholes that allow legal avoidance.
    Because an ISA isn't tax avoidance!

    Tax avoidance is adding economically unnecessary steps to financial transactions for the sole purpose of generating a tax relief.
    Tax avoidance is avoiding tax.

    By taking the economically unnecessary step of moving cash into a shares ISA, you avoid income tax on dividends and capital gains tax on capital gains.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670

    Alistair said:

    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
    Technically if it is illegal due to GAAR then isn't it tax evasion rather than tax avoidance?
    No. The whole purpose of the GAAR is to close down schemes where each individual step is legal but the combination of steps generates artificial tax relief beyond the intended scope of the enacted law.

    Tax evasion requires lying about your financial affairs, for example failure to declare income.

    The government documentation of the GAAR talks purely about it's use for closing tax avoidance schemes not tax evasion.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tax-avoidance-general-anti-abuse-rules
  • John_NJohn_N Posts: 389
    Alistair said:

    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
    The whole point of an ISA is tax avoidance.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,967
    On tax:

    With the £1000 of interest free next year, what happens to a "regular saver" of say £300 / mth that runs from 30th June 2015 -> 30th June 2016 :) ? (Assume BR taxpayer)
  • RogerRoger Posts: 20,089
    tyson

    "She only said what most people were thinking. Not many people would want a skin headed, tattooed English flag draped, brutal looking chap living next to them. There again looks like be deceiving, and he might have been lovely and sweet- and the kind of neighbour you could give your house keys to, and let him feed your cats. "

    Tyson's right. Why did they sack the only Labour MP who had shown any taste or judgement during the whole campaign?
  • LadyBucketLadyBucket Posts: 590
    Can I safely say that the hand(s) of Seamus Milne and Damian McBride are pulling the strings behind Jeremy Corbyn?

    Is Jeremy Corbyn really going to Glastonbury the day after EU referendum to lecture about Trident, when Colonel Thornberry-Bucket (no relation) will still be undertaking her 'alleged' review?
  • David_EvershedDavid_Evershed Posts: 6,506
    Pulpstar said:

    On tax:

    With the £1000 of interest free next year, what happens to a "regular saver" of say £300 / mth that runs from 30th June 2015 -> 30th June 2016 :) ? (Assume BR taxpayer)

    You get £1000 of interest on aggregate savings tax free if you are a basic rate taxpayer.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,544

    Can I safely say that the hand(s) of Seamus Milne and Damian McBride are pulling the strings behind Jeremy Corbyn?

    Is Jeremy Corbyn really going to Glastonbury the day after EU referendum to lecture about Trident, when Colonel Thornberry-Bucket (no relation) will still be undertaking her 'alleged' review?

    If it's Leave, then he'll need to be back in London for an emergency debate in Parliament me thinks.
  • AlistairAlistair Posts: 23,670
    John_N said:

    Alistair said:

    ydoethur said:


    No, it is tax avoidance. It is a legal way of arranging your affairs to minimise the tax you pay. That meets the definition.

    You are talking about aggressive tax avoidance schemes. Legally, if not morally, there is no difference between the two.

    Which is why a simpler law, making these schemes much harder, would be A Good Thing and Memorable.

    No, you are wrong, legally the GAAR says there is a difference.

    Using a governemtn defined tax break for it's intended purpose is called tax planning.

    Using government defined tax breaks in ways that are not intended and for the sole purpose of generating tax relief where none should exist is tax avoidance.

    These are defined terms by HMRC, you do no-one any good by trying to conflate correct use of ISAs with tax avoidance.
    The whole point of an ISA is tax avoidance.
    The whole point of an ISA is to encourage people to save money and that encouragement is through the form of a tax break.
  • justin124justin124 Posts: 11,527
    Pulpstar said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Number Cruncher
    Rallings and Thrasher local election forecast:

    CON +50
    LAB -150
    LIB +40
    UKIP +40

    Is there a NEV for that lot ?
    Con 31 / Lab 30 / LD 16 / UKIP 12.

    LD 16 looks high to me. It might be what by-elections suggest but fighting a full set of elections is a different deal. That said, *targetting* gains may not be that different from by-elections, if starting at a low base.
    http://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2014/05/27/guest-slot-rod-crosby-the-bell-tolls-for-labour-and-miliband/

    Labour have 4 years to improve the situation, but if that is the result, we're starting at a 13% lead for the Tories at the next election.
    I am not sure where you get that from - he Tories had a 1% lead in the popular vote in 2011 one year into the last Parliament.
This discussion has been closed.