TAKE THAT – AND BANK IT!
The Condemlition’s hypocrisy road show rumbles on. OK, there’s an unpleasant element of hypocrisy when you look closely at Jimmy Carr, who has made a great deal of his living during the past year with anti-government satire on Channel 4’s Ten O’Clock Live. What’s even more unpleasant is the fact that the toe-curling brown-nosing of Cameron’s ultra-monarchist patriotic pet pop star, Gary Barlow (damn – they only gave me an OBE – I was hoping for a knighthood!)has ring-fenced him off from any Tory reproach. As long as you’re a Tory, you’re seemingly exempt from any kind of morality.
Three members of Take That have invested £26 million in a scheme allegedly designed to avoid tax, it has been reported. Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald, along with their manager Jonathan Wild, are reportedly among 1,000 wealthy figures who have invested around £480 million in a scheme, described as a "tax shelter". The scheme, which is overseen by a firm called Icebreaker Management Services, is currently being investigated by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), who have told The Timesthat they are actively looking to close the scheme down. (Why? Is it because they’ve been rumbled?)
So whilst benefits are being cut and more people have to struggle by taking out ‘payday’ cash loans from firms such as Wonga.com, the recommendations for more cuts, more sackings, the demonization of public sector workers rolls on. Tory morality? If you’re looking for it, think on when you watch those sickening Wonga.com TV ads, where ‘old people’ in puppet form act out the stereotypical attitudes of us cranky old folk. Who is it that runs Wonga.com? An outfit called Dawn Capital, whose chairman just happens to be Cameron’s ‘deregulation’ advisor – Adrian Beecroft. So perhaps their mission statement ought to read; “We’ll make you poor – then lend you money – so you keep us rich”. So, Gary Barlow, be proud of your new Tory status. Like Vodaphone, who allegedly treat HMRC boss Dave Hartnett to several long lunches, you’re in good moral company. Vodaphone got off lightly and saved a few billion. Maybe you should have a word with them once the heat is off, pick up a few tips. Hartnett also signed off a deal which let Goldman Sachs off a £10million tax bill. That’s the way to do it! MPs on the powerful Public Administration Committee accused him of being ‘cavalier’ with taxpayers’ money.
In 2010 Mr Hartnett was hauled over the coals by the Chancellor following a fiasco that left millions of workers with the wrong tax code and facing hefty bills. No doubt Take That weren’t among them. Of course, Tory ‘morality’ means never having to say ‘sorry’. Hartnett refused to apologise to the 1.4 million families landed with unexpected demands averaging £1,400 each.
So if there’s at least 1,000 of these high-end tax dodgers out there (minus Jimmy Carr), presumably Mr. Cameron and his posh boys are going to criticise them one by one. Don’t hold your breath. Save it for begging when you visit Wonga.com
