to be jealous of Phillip Green and his family at their £16,000 a night luxury villa in Barbados

[EggFriedRice]

Some people are so lucky here we are trapped in a snow covered Britain whilst some high profile tax avoiding folk are ejoying the luxury of exclusive hotels in Barbados, but I suppose when you are paid an enormous £1.2 billion tax free bonus, equivalent to £3.3 million per day ( paid in 2005 to Arcadia owner Tina Green) you have to spend it somewhere . No sale shopping for the Greens they'll miss the bargains in BHS. Topshop & Dorothy Perkins as they'll still be on their hols, but would they buy clothes in their own shops anyway I hope that the protests by UK Uncut to boycott Arcadia shops will lead to scrutiny of tax avoidance in the UK.

[NetworkGuy]

Probably NBU to be a bit jealous, but that's actually what seems to drive capitalism. Also a motivation for many in music, films, and so on. Once someone has earned a few million they could probably go into retirement but they seem to just want more and more. It gets to be their motivation, and is clearly different to those who are born into a rich family or someone winning a lottery, where they may go on a bit of a spending spree but don't actually have that motivation of being a "beat the competition" workaholic which makes some stars and top business people "tick".

I think we should feel sorry for some of these rich folk, who just don't know when to let someone with a bit less experience step into their boots.

oooOooo

On the tax front:

20-ish years ago I was quite angry that the then-boss of Direct Line insurance (which had been sold to RBOS or RBS) had been given a massive bonus (2.4 million, I think) on top of a million pound plus salary, when part of the bonus was for 'efficiency savings (read 'job cuts') and the rest was for boosting business (which meant the staff on the phones were selling insurance faster). Not sure that he, personally, had needed to do a great deal of work towards either aspect, as that's the sort of senior / middle management workload.

Then, on the other hand, it was worth remembering that he would pay tax on it.

Now, the fact the head of a string of shops is reducing tax liability is frankly 'standard' for someone as highly paid, and there are many firms of accountants who must be specialists in spotting loopholes.

It's not the fault of the individual but the massively complicated rules which have an extra clause added here and there from time to time, cutting out some of the gaps where funds can be hidden away without paying tax.

It is the fault of successive governments (especially as London can be seen - over the past 50+ years - to have a very high concentration on money and investment) not to have simplified tax rules and find all-encompassing ways to prevent any avoidance or mitigation.

[nickytwotimes]

Envious, not jealous.

Personally, I am more angry than envious.

I agree with Network guy re:failure of successive govs, rather than individuals.

But generally, no YANBU at all.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Don't be jealous. I am 99.999999999% certain he has a small willy

[Prinnie]

I'm a bit jealous - I've stopped at Sandy Lane and it's as bloody amazing as everyone says! Wish I was there now!

[ISNT]

I don't have any willy at all apocalypse, so feel entitled to feel a tiny bit, not jealous exactly, or even envious , but that would be nice...

[violethill]

Nope. I'd rather be in my house in snowy England than in Barbados.

How do you know whether he's happy or not?

Stop fixating on the minority of extremely wealthy people and create the Christmas and the life you want!

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Tbh, t'isn't right avin christmas in a hot country.

Bet they won't be arguing over the last purple one in the quality street

[edam]

Well, we are paying a proportion of his bill. Given he's not paying his fair share of taxes, so the rest of us have to make up the difference - and take cuts in public spending, too. So I think we are entitled to be cross.

Wish we were more French and could get the guillotine out - I'm quite prepared to learn to knit if necessary.

[TheCrackFox]

I wouldn't mind a holiday at Sandy Lane but TBH I think their guests seem the biggest bunch of tossers imaginable. Who would want to spend Christmas with Phillip Green, Simon Cowell and Michael Winner? Seems to be the stuff of nightmares.

I live in a Victorian house now covered in snow, which, IMO is about as Christmassy as you can get.

[Nancy66]

the staff at Sandy Lane must laugh themselves silly every winter. I bet they cant believe anybody is stupid enough to pay £30 for a cheese sandwich

[violethill]

I'm no fan of Philip green, but lets get facts straight. He contributes more to the economy than he takes out. If we didn't have such a complex screwed up system, the economy would benefit MORE . In other words, the economy is not getting as much as it could get if he didn't make use of loopholes. But to try to claim he's costing the country is plain wrong.

Off to grab last purple choc....

[NetworkGuy]

True, edam, had not thought of it quite that way. Not sure that the guillotine would be satisfactory anyway, because the fact remains that while there are loopholes, someone else would use them, though perhaps with a smaller profile than him.

Of course, it is perfectly reasonable to lay plans for a boycott, but one that does see income go down (not sure that the boycott of Barclays because of them being in S Africa during the apartheid years did them much harm, and of course, it could prove unpopular to boycott all Arcadia group shops, plus Boots, Vodafone, and many other targets, because if they're not (say) avoiding some taxes, they are making money from porn (Vodafone, hotel chains, investment funds, pensions schemes) and it comes back to bite other members of the public, and shop staff in particular.

I can just imagine it now, news headline and article:

"Arcadia Group blames protestors over closures"

Sir Philip Green had been the target of a campaign about tax avoidance, and while he acknowledged there may be some outcry over his business dealings, he explained that his financial advisors and accountants had checked that nothing improper had been done.

He went on to express his deep regret over the loss of jobs caused by the significant closures and explained that the protestors had made trading more difficult, so Arcadia Group had no alternative but to close over 2,500 stores, including BHS,Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Wallis, Outfit (on retail parks) plus the Burton and Topman chains.

He added that at the start of the protests, staff had been told to expect closures, and were given the option of a 10% bonus after 18 months if they resigned their posts and took up short-term, renewable, contracts, which gave them a immediate salary increase of 2.5% to acknowldge the disruption some protestors might cause them. Over 95% of staff took up this option, and now stand to lose significant redundancy payments as a result of these contract changes, saving Arcadia Group a further billion pounds (estimates vary).

[TheCrackFox]

But if everyone stopped shopping at his shops they would spend their money elsewhere, creating other jobs on the High Street.

TBH, this is no big decision for me as all of his shops are utter shite. I really can't understand who shops at BHS.

[MrsAgonyBeetle]

Not envious of Philip Green. Envious of the people who ask £10,000 for a nicht in a hotel - and get it. And they live in Barbados all year round. And they don't have to suffer the shame of admitting that they actually own BHbloodyS. What's not to love?

[NetworkGuy]

"to try to claim he's costing the country"

If there was a higher contribution in taxes, there could be less borrowing, and less interest on that borrowing. So, by avoiding payment of legitimate taxes (admittedly by legitimate loopholes) there is an additional cost to the taxpayer, in interest.

Of course, if there was the fuller amount coming in as taxes, most governments would spend it, and borrow the same amount, so it might be arguable, too.

:)

[NetworkGuy]

True, CrackFox, but in the short term a load of shop staff and their families would suffer.

also, in the short term, it is difficult to see which alternative companies (apart from Oil-rich Sheiks, and their various sovereign funds) would buy the buildings, employ the staff, and start from scratch in so many locations.

Woolworths went down and with a few exceptions, I bet many of those old stores are still closed, BICBW.

[PressureDrop]

They're vile people. Really.

I'd rather be destitute than have to sleep with that gargoyle.

[AliGrylls]

I am going to say something very snobbish.

Just because he is rich and can afford amazing holidays doesn't make him interesting/intelligent - in fact the way he speaks and slobbers (I am sure he looks like he is slobbering sometimes) reminds me more of a primate than a person.

I would rather be interesting and intelligent than have a nice holiday (question now is whether I am interesting or intelligent).

[Nancy66]

I can't imagine he'd have got where he is if he's as thick as shit.

I imagine he's very boorish and full of himself in an Alan Sugar sort of way though.

[EggFriedRice]

The trouble is it is hard to stomach seeing certain individual super rich people holidaying where money is no object and on the otherhand seeing our young school children having to demonstrate for a decent university education which many will be unable to afford due to our governments policies. It's hard to stomach reading that Tina Green who is the owner of Arcadia is able to benefit from billions of UK earned money tax free. It is no wonder people are angry in this country and wanting to boycott their grossly over-priced clothes shops.

[Laneigejaune]

Wow superb advice from violethill. You're right, it's up to all of us to decide what we want and go after it. Feeling quite inspired by that actually

Still wish I could afford to spend Christmas in Barbados though. Plus, while it's fair dos to Phil Green for making all that cash and avoiding paying tax on it given he's working within the law, iit sticks in my craw that the government make him an adviser, while taking child benefit away from hard working families.

[standupandbecounted]

YABU to feel envious. In a way that makes you as materialistic as he is.

YANBU to question the gap between rich and poor, and even rich and average. I think it is too wide.

[Malificence]

Is Cilla there as well? If she was I'd rather top myself.

I saw somebdy complaining on the news that they were stuck in Mauritius , Mauritius ! because of the snow in UK. Bastards, I'd love to be stranded in Mauritius right now.

[Merlotmonster]

Not jealous in any way...cant think of better place to be than in front of my roaring fire waiting for Olympia Horse show to come on TV - snow outside - Perfect!!

Merry christmas everyone!!!

[longfingernails]

If you are so jealous, then feel free to start a small business from scratch.

Make sure you control costs, manage stock efficiently, and waste days of stress dealing with bonkers bureaucracy and insane EU legislation. Make sure also that you are better than your competitors, that you are smart enough to be ahead of the next trend.

Be a ruthless salesperson. Put your business ahead of everything else.

If you do all those things, then maybe your small business will become a medium-sized business, or even a large business.

When you get there, I am sure you will appreciate being told to pay more than 65% of your income, plus around a quarter of your business profits, in tax. And why? To support people who would refuse to take a job in one of your shops, because they choose benefits as a lifestyle?

This post isn't (only) sarcastic. People do start businesses all the time. It is OK to be jealous of him, and perhaps to aspire to aspects of his lifestyle - but if you don't do anything about it, then it's not his fault. It's yours.