Post by nickd on Jun 20, 2012 22:06:37 GMT 1
David Cameron declares war on Jimmy Carr over offshore tax avoidance
'Morally wrong' says Cameron - but will he be looking at his own millionaire ministers?
Tough talking Cameron makes it clear that it is morally wrong for comedian Jimmy Carr to take advantage of legal loopholes which amount to tax avoidance as money is taken offshore where minimal tax is paid depriving the UK of millions if not billions of pounds in lost revenue. The media are reporting that it could create an 'open season' on wealthy individuals in the UK who adapt complex measures to avoid having their wealth swallowed up in taxation owing to the cash starved UK revenue receipts.
Cameron's actions will be all the more credible if he extends an invitation for some of his own millionaire front bench to have their own offshore tax affairs thoroughly investigated. Amongst the wealthiest of ministers is the Right Honourable MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary for Legal Aid & Courts for Huntingdon Jonathon Djanogly who already has come in for his fair share of criticism.
Jonathon Djanogly MP
Djanogly infuriated legal aid campaigners earlier this year when he laughed off a serious debate over the plight of cancer victims seeking legal redress in asbestos victim related compensation claims, have a read of the his sheer 'legal cheek' as Djanogly 'giggled & grinned' throughout the otherwise sombre debate. It isn't the first time Djanogly has found himself amidst controversy; he received a fair amount of attention over his parliamentary expenses, perhaps he's not too keen on the public eye - hence his £5,000 claim for some security gates around his Huntingdon home; the bill footed by the tax paper. He also got caught up in further scandal over calling in private eyes to spy on local party members, it was an action which had the justice minister being urged to 'step aside' by other government ministers. Djanogly seems to be able to survive all that is thrown at him, his role in the passage of the legal aid bill was rocked by accusations of undeclared interests & conflict of interests in claims management firms . Shortly afterwards attention was turned to how Djanogly may just have been a little too close to the British Insurance Association ; an industry to which the Djanogly family has a vested interest. The ilegal network were instrumental in exposing some of these parliamentary 'oversights'. Amongst Djanogly's declared interests the past has been the offshore firm Oakley Capital Investments (Bermuda) - see below. A closer look reveals how international law firm SJ Berwin were legal advisers to the firm and his father Sir Harry Djanogly being on the advisory committee. Djanogly used to be a partner in London based SJ Berwin. A more recent look at Oakley Capital Investments shows SJ Berwin and Sir Harry to no longer be named in their public documents. The question Mr Cameron should be asking his minister is why the need for an offshore account?
More below...
'Morally wrong' says Cameron - but will he be looking at his own millionaire ministers?
Tough talking Cameron makes it clear that it is morally wrong for comedian Jimmy Carr to take advantage of legal loopholes which amount to tax avoidance as money is taken offshore where minimal tax is paid depriving the UK of millions if not billions of pounds in lost revenue. The media are reporting that it could create an 'open season' on wealthy individuals in the UK who adapt complex measures to avoid having their wealth swallowed up in taxation owing to the cash starved UK revenue receipts.
Cameron's actions will be all the more credible if he extends an invitation for some of his own millionaire front bench to have their own offshore tax affairs thoroughly investigated. Amongst the wealthiest of ministers is the Right Honourable MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary for Legal Aid & Courts for Huntingdon Jonathon Djanogly who already has come in for his fair share of criticism.
Jonathon Djanogly MP
Djanogly infuriated legal aid campaigners earlier this year when he laughed off a serious debate over the plight of cancer victims seeking legal redress in asbestos victim related compensation claims, have a read of the his sheer 'legal cheek' as Djanogly 'giggled & grinned' throughout the otherwise sombre debate. It isn't the first time Djanogly has found himself amidst controversy; he received a fair amount of attention over his parliamentary expenses, perhaps he's not too keen on the public eye - hence his £5,000 claim for some security gates around his Huntingdon home; the bill footed by the tax paper. He also got caught up in further scandal over calling in private eyes to spy on local party members, it was an action which had the justice minister being urged to 'step aside' by other government ministers. Djanogly seems to be able to survive all that is thrown at him, his role in the passage of the legal aid bill was rocked by accusations of undeclared interests & conflict of interests in claims management firms . Shortly afterwards attention was turned to how Djanogly may just have been a little too close to the British Insurance Association ; an industry to which the Djanogly family has a vested interest. The ilegal network were instrumental in exposing some of these parliamentary 'oversights'. Amongst Djanogly's declared interests the past has been the offshore firm Oakley Capital Investments (Bermuda) - see below. A closer look reveals how international law firm SJ Berwin were legal advisers to the firm and his father Sir Harry Djanogly being on the advisory committee. Djanogly used to be a partner in London based SJ Berwin. A more recent look at Oakley Capital Investments shows SJ Berwin and Sir Harry to no longer be named in their public documents. The question Mr Cameron should be asking his minister is why the need for an offshore account?
More below...
