Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Politics
Original poster

Zac Goldsmith

230 replies

ItsGrimUpNorth · 07/05/2010 20:48

I'm sorry but how can anyone vote for someone who only gave up their non dom status during the election campaign? How does someone like that contribute to Britain? He only became a tax payer because of the election. To me, that is a scum person.

And whilst he roundly won his seat, why did he have that gurning hooray behind him during the announcements? That, I have to say, was one of my favourite moments of the election, watching that berk's face. Could you get any more Tory?

OP posts:
RedLadyBiscuit · 08/05/2010 21:04

The large majority of benefit recipients have contributed. Most of them have worked and will work again. The proportion of taxes that are evaded by the super-rich are worth far in excess of benefits paid out.

expat - it wasn't difficult to understand really. But I shall clarify: And I'm swearing because I think making really snide comments about a benefits system which I am personally proud of from someone who comes from a country where the poor are left to fend for themselves really pisses me off.

MmeTrueBlueberry · 08/05/2010 21:04

Hve you ever puzzled over the marriaged/separately or the married/jointly distinction? Then you will realise that the IRS encourages you to minimise your taxes. It is a FACT! Have you ever had an IRS audit - I have and they really do expect you to minimise your own taxes.

expatinscotland · 08/05/2010 21:04

Well, chand, yes, I do understand what non-dom status is.

And, if you had read my other posts, you'd see, I think anyone who lies and cheats the way Zac has, and others, should be chucked out of public office.

Yes.

Believe it or not, if there were, there are others, many others, of better character who can replace them.

No one's irreplaceable.

Even the Queen has a successor.

expatinscotland · 08/05/2010 21:06

'Hve you ever puzzled over the marriaged/separately or the married/jointly distinction? Then you will realise that the IRS encourages you to minimise your taxes. It is a FACT! Have you ever had an IRS audit - I have and they really do expect you to minimise your own taxes.'

Well, no, no I haven't.

It's not a FACT!, however, that, for some, married filing separately might result in a lower taxes and so therefore that = encouragement.

Yes, I've been audited.

But I was single then.

Meh.

They didn't encourage, they just went through all my stuff and kept asking for more and more stuff.

RedLadyBiscuit · 08/05/2010 21:07

No he hasn't broken UK tax laws MmeBB. But the non-dom status is a tax law designed for foreign nationals who are temporarily in the UK. If someone is standing for parliament (or is indeed a British MP) then they must be domiciled in the UK. Meaning they are not non-doms. Therefore they must not claim non-dom status. ZG did not give up his non-dom status until December 2009 - long after he had been put forward as a tory candidate for Richmond

expatinscotland · 08/05/2010 21:08

those MP expenses weren't illegal, either.

just taking the piss and completely unethical.

oooo, RL, you sweary thing. that will be deleted!

Most Yanks can't handle that sort of thing, you know.

RedLadyBiscuit · 08/05/2010 21:09

I've never had a post deleted!

poshsinglemum · 08/05/2010 21:10

Strange how the Tories go on about nuclear families if Zac buggered off from his.I din't know that but just goes to show- on erule for them, another for everyone else. However, any green influence in goverment is most welcome.

expatinscotland · 08/05/2010 21:11

It's a fantastic feeling, RLB! Because that's when you know, some random stranger got all fired up about you, another random stranger.

It's flattering!

Welcome to the Club! Distinguished members include custy, cod, policywonk on the sauce, and some other namechangers.

And yours truly

poshsinglemum · 08/05/2010 21:15

Yep take the benefits away. After all only lazy work-shy people claim them. Lets scrap the minimum wage while were at it too.

expatinscotland · 08/05/2010 21:15

Yes, well, posh, that's because Zac gave his ex a hefty wodge of cash, see, she's not like all those benefits claimant single mums out there.

You know, the ones a strong government needs to 'tackle'.

MmeTrueBlueberry · 08/05/2010 21:17

the key thing is that his domiciliary status in appropriate when he stands for parliament.

Being able to switch domiciles is not easy, and if he does so is fair cop to him. There are always the requirements of the other country to think about.

If you don't agree with these rules for standing for parliament, then you can raise this issue wiht your own MP. You can also think about how it affects other non-domsm such as abused mothers of foreign husbands.

You also have to consider what it means to be a British citizen. I, myself, have spent many years as a non-dom (without mega-money), but fully expected to have the full rights of citizenship when we returned to the UK wrt to the NHS and education. Unfortunately, education in our area was shite so we had to go private anyway - ho hum.

RedLadyBiscuit · 08/05/2010 21:37

Aha! So despite your 'not-a-higher-rate-taxpayer-stance' your DH is isn't he? Because the fees are way beyond me. I'm just stuck with trying to make the local school a better place. Still, that's what society is all about in my book

expat - I've not been deleted - bah. I'm tempted to report it myself only Justine'd never let me get away with it

WinkyWinkola · 08/05/2010 21:41

Well, I just think you're all twisted about this non dom rubbish because he's so good looking. And he'll never look at you. So suck it up.

Yeah, we've got to.

taffetacat · 08/05/2010 22:11

This thread has got interesting. I can't believe that someone is being berated for swearing because they pay higher rate tax so should know better. WTF?

Winky - you are joking? Purleez.

WinkyWinkola · 08/05/2010 22:47

Taffeta, what do you think? Of course, I'm joking. Sheesh.

edam · 08/05/2010 23:40

Mme, I'm going to try to explain this again, very s l o w l y. Just in case you aren't being deliberately obtuse.

If you want to decide how much tax everyone else has to pay and how those taxes should be spent, you have to pay full UK taxes yourself.

There. Nothing to do with benefits. Or whatever deal returning expats get on access to the NHS or whatever. Do what the fuck you like. Just don't stand for parliament if you haven't paid full UK taxes.

Dear Zac didn't start declaring his full income and assets for UK taxes until after declaring his candidacy. Hence he's a wanker. And a tea-leaf - when he was sheltering his money offshore, lots of other people who don't have 1% of his money were propping up the national finances instead.

MmeTrueBlueberry · 09/05/2010 05:31

Did he do anything illegal? That is what counts.

If you are a constituent and don't want to vote for him for whatever reason, then that is fine. But it shouldn't affect his ability to stand for the seat.

MmeTrueBlueberry · 09/05/2010 05:53

"The Lib Dems have made false claims about my Tax status, which made national news. In the media stampede, there is no doubt the Lib Dems won the PR war. But it was based on nonsense.

'There were 4 claims: that I was non-resident, non-tax resident, that I owed millions to the taxman, and that I had only changed my status following pressure from others.

'In fact I have always been resident in the UK, and have always chosen to be tax resident in the UK. I therefore haven?t merely paid tax on UK income ? but on income generally ? at the full rate. Non-dom status can mean many things. Through my choices, it offered me little benefit, a fact that has been confirmed in writing by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

'The Lib Dem assertion that trust-ownership of my home leaves the taxman short makes no sense and is wrong. When a person?s primary home is sold, there is no Capital Gains Tax to pay. Not so the trust-owned home I occupy if it is sold for a gain. The taxman will therefore gain from these arrangements.

'I no longer have non-dom status, a decision that I took before being approached by any newspapers, and which will apply as of a full year before the launch of this election. "

tweetymum · 09/05/2010 06:19

Note he doesn't address the cheating on his wife bit.

MmeTrueBlueberry · 09/05/2010 06:45

That would be an odd thing to do in a response about his tax status.

taffetacat · 09/05/2010 08:14

"Did he do anything illegal? That is what counts."

So are you saying its OK to be morally bankrupt as long as its legal?

Winky - sorry, oddbods abound atm.

MmeTrueBlueberry · 09/05/2010 08:30

That's for the constituents of Richmond to decide. It's not an issue for the electoral commission or whoever is responsible for allowing candidates to stand.

I still don't see what ZG has done that it so wrong. He inherited money and tax status from a rich father who set up overseas trusts. He himself has always paid his UK taxes in full, and even changed his status months before the newspapers outed him.

No one should have to pay more tax than they actually owe, although they may choose to support their own interests via charities, which ZG does.

taffetacat · 09/05/2010 08:39

I don't think it is just for the constituents of Richmond to comment on though. Lets not pretend that an MP only influences areas relevant to their constituency once elected.

edam · 09/05/2010 11:26

Ooh, that's really good of him, giving a few pennies that he's withheld from the government to charity. Wow. Wonder if the taxman will let me donate my money to Shelter rather than filling in my tax return...

Anyway, seems one billionaire is rather pissed off that he failed to buy the election. Ashcroft not a happy bunny.