Politicians/HMRC are fine with tax avoidance

If it involves becomming non-UK resident

Didn't find your answer?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55475013

So why does Philip Green (and his wife) et al get so much criticism for doing pretty much exactly the same thing as LH? It can’t be just coz he flaunts his wealth with a yacht rather than a private jet?

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/06/lewis-hamilton-avoided-taxe...

I bet Gary Lineker is as confused as me.

Replies (9)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By bernard michael
31st Dec 2020 10:39

LH just goes round in circles very fast, He doesn't effect other peoples jobs and income as do the Greens

Thanks (1)
Psycho
By Wilson Philips
31st Dec 2020 10:45

If you bother to read the press you will find that Lewis gets slated regularly for his lifestyle and tax position.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Wilson Philips:
avatar
By Justin Bryant
31st Dec 2020 10:59

But (if you bother to read my comment, let alone the press) so does PG, GL et al. That's my point (that you have missed as usual). David Beckham was another. See:

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/01/uk-tax-avoiders-face-be...

I guess VAT avoidance on private jets (using IoM leasing companies) is all OK too in this regard (assuming you've not read/understood that bit too).

Thanks (0)
Replying to Justin Bryant:
Psycho
By Wilson Philips
31st Dec 2020 11:15

If I missed your point it is because it was poorly made. Your words suggest that PG is criticised but LH is not. But in any event

it rather suggests that I'm right and you're wrong if insults is all you have to argue with

In case anyone is getting the wrong impression, though, I am no fan whatsoever of Lewis Hamilton and do not consider him to be in the slightest eligible for a knighthood - but for reasons other than his tax status.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Wilson Philips:
avatar
By Justin Bryant
31st Dec 2020 11:28

You make it sound like it's my fault that you're always wrong. Also, as to insults, your above comment "If you bother to read the press..." is not exactly polite is it? If you were just wrong and polite with it I (and most others presumably) would not mind so much.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By paul.benny
31st Dec 2020 11:02

The people named have more income to shield from tax and to pay advisors to help them do it.

Tax avoidance is, of course, legal, and most of us do it to some extent, such as saving in ISAs. An entirely different question is when does legal tax avoidance become a Bad Thing.

Thanks (2)
Replying to paul.benny:
avatar
By Justin Bryant
31st Dec 2020 11:22

What DB, GL, PG et al did re their tax affairs was (of course) entirely legal, but they had issues with politicians and the establishment in general coz of that, and LH apparently didn't even though the tax arrangements of the former were arguably (in fact almost certainly) no worse than those of LH.

So it looks like double standards here.

Thanks (0)
Replying to Justin Bryant:
avatar
By paul.benny
31st Dec 2020 12:50

Double standards on whose part?

Are you suggesting that because Lewis Hamilton has chosen to reside outside the UK (thereby avoiding UK taxes) he should be disqualified from the honours system?

Thanks (0)
avatar
By whitevanman
31st Dec 2020 12:45

I suppose one of the things being overlooked is the role any individual plays.
I very much doubt that Mr Beckham, who was regularly ridiculed for his apparent lack of, what we might call "brain power", was fully aware of what was going on. Like LH and others mentioned, he relied entirely on advice from professionals (who I regard as the real culprits). Green on the other hand was a businessman who has substantial wealth and is far more (if not fully) aware of what he was doing.
None of them should be applauded but I can understand the difference in perception.

Thanks (2)