British Billionaires

[mrmcfister]

Todays Sunday Times reveals names of people living here who are 'billionaires'. Whilst I am not a card carrying commie it seems theres enough shit in this country that could be put right with the help of a proportion of such vast sums of money.A bit obscene that people should have that much and not feel a sense of duty to their fellow man ? I may be wrong but if I had that much I think I'd enjoy the differance I could make..

[jasonhallceltic]

i would consider my self a socialist mate, and i agree with u, but alot of very rich people do help charities, look at bill gates he's going to set his family up and then says leve the majority of his money to charities, and the guy who owns jjb aswell

[Arginald Valleywater]

As a life long Tory I think the amount we pay in taxes to that thieving Scottish wankstain, Mr Brown, is more than enough to put this country right. Don't forget most super rich spend an obscene amount of money and keep thousands in work. Think how any British businesses supply luxury goods and services to the monied classes, Rolls Royce, Bentley, Sunseeker, Aston Martin, Burberry, all of Savile Row.........

[jasonhallceltic]

does the fact that he's scottish have anything to do with it ?

[eroticartist]

What difference does it make when you value all the shares and property that you own and look at some ink marks on the paper of your bank balance? What is important is to have a big roll of readies in your pocket to buy goods and services although that wont bring you the most important thing in life - happiness.
Mike Freeman.

[solihull]

Dream world mate,they tried it in the 70s,they all left for taxexile.At least here they pay taxes,and at a higher percent than the average guy.
Be nice to grab some of it,Putin's doing it now in Russia,so all his Oligarchs just come here instead of staying there,and pay taxes here,and spend money in our economy.
I'm a bit of a socialist myself,but you don't get fairness by driving away the ones who pay the tax.You just got to make the best use of the money we can afford to help people,not waste it like both the Tories and Labour do to woo those few important votes.

[eroticartist]

Solihull,
Most rich people "avoid" taxation by having their bank accounts offshore and having houses abroad so that they do not live in the UK for more than six months a year -which makes one exempt!

Mike Freeman.

[solihull]

Of course Mr Erotic,but even living here for say 6 months,think of all the indirect tax these people pay on say purchases with vat etc.Add that up.and it's a fair old wack.
My point was better to have them here spending and paying some kinds of tax,than living elsewhere and helping another economy.Look at Chelsea,or Berezovsky,both (victims?) of a socialist economy.Who is their money benefitting? Russia,or the UK?
Remember the 70s,even working class people left these shores for say America to avoid crippling taxes.
We all try to fiddle tax,but direct tax is probally a smaller burden now than indirect taxes,and it's harder to avoid those.

[chatterji]

I have no poiltical loyalties. I agree that the tax burden is too heavy on the majority, and is particularly disproportionate on middle-income earners. But part of the reason for tax levels, and this has been a constant for all post-war governments, is the billions this country loses in unpaid income tax. The top 1% of UK earners rarely pay any, thanks to the numerous, legitimate, tax-avoidance, ooops, 'tax-efficiency', schemes. The old chestnut that the wealthy spend more/create more wealth is irrelevant. The law is supposed to be universal. It isn't. I firmly believe that the super-rich should be taxed properly. It'll never happen. So we'll continue to be over-taxed.

Incidentally, the differing taxation rates between Conservative and Labour are no longer so very different. It's the allocation of public monies that separates them now. If the Tories ever win a general election again the pennies in your pocket, due to a marginally lower income tax rate, will be barely enough to buy a decent lap-dance.

What's interesting is that those with the most money are the least keen to pay their dues, despite the fact that their living standards won't be truly compromised. A total cunt like Philip Green, purely my opinion, is lauded as a pillar of the community when he made his money in this country, and has steadfastly avoided paying what he owes to the UK and the market that gave him his billions. It's the same for the private equity barons who are making billions and paying nada on their deals due to the way they dismantle and reassemble the companies they buy, and registering themselves in tax havens.

Billionaire philanthropy does a lot of good in the world; but billionaires are choosing what to fund and how to fund it. I don't think it's healthy for individuals to play God like that. We govern collectively, at least in theory. Tax them properly. Use the income to further society through governmental channels.