Tuesday 18 December 2012
Monday 17 December 2012
Tax problems in UK
Barclay twins' Ritz hotel pays no corporation tax
London's Ritz hotel has been owned by the Barclay twins through an offshore trust since 1995
London's high-end Ritz hotel has not paid any corporation tax in the 17 years since it was taken over by the reclusive Barclay twins.
The BBC's Panorama programme analysed the accounts of the hotel bought by the brothers in 1995.
The accounts show that the profitable hotel has used a series of tax reliefs to reduce its corporation tax to zero.
The brothers said they have not run their UK companies since they retired to Monaco more than 20 years ago.
Test case
The Ritz's efforts to reduce its tax bill are legal but have raised questions at a time when another firm bought by Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay, Littlewoods, is embroiled in a legal battle with HMRC.
The brothers also own the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspaper titles.
The catalogue company Littlewoods, bought by the twins in 2002, has already won a VAT rebate plus interest worth £472m from HMRC over payments dating back to 1973.
But the twins' company has gone to court to demand a further £1bn from the government in compound interest.
It is an important test case for taxpayers because if Littlewoods wins, it could open the door to claims worth billions of pounds from other companies.
MP Nadine Dorries said: "They're incredibly wealthy men who don't pay British tax. I think it is just utterly appalling."
The twins said they have had nothing to do with the running of the UK companies.
"We have not attended office, management or board meetings in the UK since leaving the country," Sir David Barclay said in a statement. "My brother and I have no editorial, political or economic power in the UK."
Littlewoods, the Ritz and the Telegraph are controlled by offshore trusts. However, the trusts were set up by the twins and one of the brothers attends the trust meetings.
Richard Murphy, from the Tax Justice Network, said: "These meetings are taking place in Monaco, but there is no doubt that sitting right in the middle of the meetings are the Barclay brothers who are therefore able to exercise control of these companies."
'Responsible way'
The UK businesses are managed by Sir David's son, Aidan Barclay. He told the programme that Littlewoods lodged its VAT claim before the family took over the company.
"This represents tax taken incorrectly by HMRC and held incorrectly for many years, facts which HMRC publicly recognise and accept," he said.
"Directors of companies have legal responsibilities and duties to recover and secure their companies' assets from the perspective of each company itself and its various stakeholders. It would be a dereliction of their duties not to pursue repayments which are properly due from HMRC."
Aidan Barclay also said that the Ritz had not paid any dividends, and profits from the hotel had been reinvested.
"The Barclay family members and their companies abide by the law and pay the taxes required by UK law and the laws of other relevant countries."
In a statement Sir David Barclay said: "We have always acted in a responsible way with regard to taxation and have never been involved in any tax avoidance scheme. We are not responsible for corporate taxes in the UK and are unaware what tax is paid on the Ritz."
Sunday 16 December 2012
Green Party Leader - Natalie Bennett in Reading
Packed schedule for party leader's visit to Reading and Wokingham
14 DECEMBER 2012
It's hard to believe that we've already passed 100 days since Natalie Bennett became our second party leader in succession to Caroline Lucas - the woman who famously has the uncanny ability to apparently be in three places at once. I can't count the number of times I've heard her dubbed "a hard act to follow".
Proving herself to be an equally energetic public face of the Green Party, Natalie has been tireless in her efforts to connect with party activists across England and Wales since taking on the role as party leader. Yesterday was Reading and Wokingham's chance to get the measure of Natalie Bennett.
Her first appointment was with Shinfield parish councillor Marjory Bisset and her neighbours who are concerned about new housing development that threatens to destroy the character of their village.
Shinfield parish councillor Marjory Bisset showing Natalie the site of the proposed housing development on Reading University land
From there Natalie was whisked back to RISC for lunch with local activists before a visit to Reading's homelessness project Launchpad, which included a tour of one of their newly refurbished properties.
Natalie with Ian Caren, chief executive of Launchpad (launchpadreading.org.uk)
The Living Wage is a key component of the Green Party's belief in fairness so we set up a meeting with local UNISON representatives whose members are facing unprecedented erosion of their working conditions and discussed the possibilty of moving Reading Borough Council to being an accredited Living Wage employer.
Monday 3 December 2012
Anti-fracking demonstration in London saturday.
Around 400 of us, Friends of the Earth and many Green Party Councillors attended and the Leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennet addressed the rally.
Letter sent to Parliament to ask them to stop fracking in the UK because of the unsafe practices of this type of blast extraction! Recent testing in Birmingham has resulted in homeowners living nearby this test to blame the process on new cracks now appearing in their properties!
We are at War, the war against our Beautiful Heritage! Our English Countryside and Welsh and Scottish! The environment can only take so much! It is coming under threat from more extraction of raw materials, excessive building and more pollution into our sea and rivers. Plus if the Rail Line HS2 from London to Edinburgh goes ahead, we will see it go through 13 beautiful wildlife sites and disturb many woodlands which will take years to grow back if ever! All for the sake of around 40 mins less travel time!!
We need to preserve our countryside and woodlands and eco-system, using permaculture more, cutting down on food waste and only manufacturing products which will rot down better and look at more Green Energy for the UK using solar and hydro and wind more.
Around 400 of us, Friends of the Earth and many Green Party Councillors attended and the Leader of the Green Party, Natalie Bennet addressed the rally.
Letter sent to Parliament to ask them to stop fracking in the UK because of the unsafe practices of this type of blast extraction! Recent testing in Birmingham has resulted in homeowners living nearby this test to blame the process on new cracks now appearing in their properties!
We are at War, the war against our Beautiful Heritage! Our English Countryside and Welsh and Scottish! The environment can only take so much! It is coming under threat from more extraction of raw materials, excessive building and more pollution into our sea and rivers. Plus if the Rail Line HS2 from London to Edinburgh goes ahead, we will see it go through 13 beautiful wildlife sites and disturb many woodlands which will take years to grow back if ever! All for the sake of around 40 mins less travel time!!
We need to preserve our countryside and woodlands and eco-system, using permaculture more, cutting down on food waste and only manufacturing products which will rot down better and look at more Green Energy for the UK using solar and hydro and wind more.
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