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Ridiculous; just shows who is still in charge (the media - did we doubt it for a second?). Oh for politicians who have backbone and the courage of their convictions, like Maggie did (and often be wrong, as she was).
As long as Ministers are ruled by tabloid headlines, we'll only keep getting simplistic solutions to complex problems and government by unelected and unscrupulous men and women looking to increase profits.
Re:Maria Miller resignation 11 Years, 3 Months ago
honey!oh sugar sugar. wrote: The media should not control politics, but I dont know how anyone could think her behaviour acceptable in the first place.
I wonder what percentage of the public could have even named the Culture Secretary a week ago?
Re:Maria Miller resignation 11 Years, 3 Months ago
Well I think it is not only natural but sensible to avoid paying tax if it's legal and to use loopholes if they exist. I also think sometimes people make mistakes about that. I feel it's a minor matter though, if illegal, with serious consequences. I also think "a good story" should not trump "are they good at their job?" every time, but, since the media rules, it always does.
We are governed by catchy headlines. Whereas we need to be governed by efficiency, decency, justice and fairness.
Re:Maria Miller resignation 11 Years, 3 Months ago
The media are indeed involved, and when it suits are abbetted by the opposition or the Government depending upon which 'scandal or scent of blood' they are sniffing.................
....my point is, next time either side cry foul over the wretched media, they need to look at themselves and remember their own complicity when it suited them :0)
Re:Maria Miller resignation 11 Years, 3 Months ago
Agreed JK - I would have thought everyone would agree that minimising the tax you pay, by legal means, was a perfectly normal and responsible thing to do. However, we seem to have entered a 'neverland' phase where it is considered morally wrong and scandalous to actively pursue tax avoidance.
This has been entirely managed by the Media especially the Daily Mail, which is amusing since Viscount Harmsworth has done everything (legal) to avoid paying tax - he has Non-Domicile tax status and owns the Daily Mail and other media businesses through a complex structure of offshore holdings and trusts which means he pays almost no UK tax on his income, investments or wealth.
They don't run that story though!
Re:Maria Miller resignation 11 Years, 3 Months ago
Gnomo wrote: Agreed JK - I would have thought everyone would agree that minimising the tax you pay, by legal means, was a perfectly normal and responsible thing to do. However, we seem to have entered a 'neverland' phase where it is considered morally wrong and scandalous to actively pursue tax avoidance.
This has been entirely managed by the Media especially the Daily Mail, which is amusing since Viscount Harmsworth has done everything (legal) to avoid paying tax - he has Non-Domicile tax status and owns the Daily Mail and other media businesses through a complex structure of offshore holdings and trusts which means he pays almost no UK tax on his income, investments or wealth.
They don't run that story though!
Have I misunderstood what happened,Gnomo? I thought Maria Miller had gone beyond (perfectly reasonable) tax avoidance and broke the law?
Re:Maria Miller resignation 11 Years, 3 Months ago
Gnomo wrote: Agreed JK - I would have thought everyone would agree that minimising the tax you pay, by legal means, was a perfectly normal and responsible thing to do.
Do people actually realise that Miller's "errors" were PRIOR to 2009 when the system was shaken-up (because no one could understand it) ?
As soon as the error was pointed out she repaid the money.