IN light of the current revelations about tax avoidance by the wealthy (“Queen’s investments in tax haven revealed in financial papers leak”, The Herald, November 6), we really need to take more seriously the proposals being made by Richard Leonard on raising a wealth tax as well as the introduction of new bands for those earning more than £70,000 and those earning over £100,000.
As he has pointed out, just a one per cent windfall tax on the wealthiest 10 per cent would raise £3.7billion. If we really want to tackle inequality and address those black spots of high unemployment and social deprivation in places like the east end of Glasgow this kind of approach is absolutely necessary.
There is of course no point in any of this, if the wealthy can find ways of secreting their wealth in tax havens, so Labour’s call for a full public inquiry should get the backing of every Scottish MP, acknowledging, of course that for Tory MPs that is asking for the proverbial turkeys to vote for Christmas.
Vince Mills,
Flat 2, 49 Partickhill Road, Glasgow.
I ASSUME that recently our current Queen will have said the equivalent of “we are not amused”, a phrase commonly attributed to Queen Victoria, to her financial investments.
No one, I believe, will expect the Queen to scrutinise her extensive investments in great detail. However, one would have thought that she would have laid down broad guidelines which would have included one to the effect that at all times she must appear to be above reproach in such matters. There will be many people in the UK, particularly those who have been living without wage rises for the best part of a decade, and others finding it difficult to make ends meet in austerity Britain, who will greet this news some with disappointment and some with annoyance.
Ma’am, with respect, you have to tell your financial advisers more clearly what you expect of them and that they were out of order not just because they have been found out.
Ian W Thomson,
38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.
I DON'T believe the Queen has done anything illegal or otherwise wrong in her investments, but should anyone think otherwise, I can't believe they could deny, in this age of free-flowing investments, that actually being a Bahamian or Cayman Islander would make a difference.
So how about being Queen of both places?
John Wallace,
54 Glebe Street, Stranraer.
AS more revelations from the investigations led by the Süddeutsche Zeitung hit the media from the findings from the Paradise Papers, whereby the rich, privileged and titular gain gains, one wonders how her Majesty’ s trustees will react.
Their involvement, albeit indirect and presumably “unknowingly”, in the recently criticised “rent-to –own” chain BrightHouse, which can charge up to 99.9 per cent interest, makes one ask questions as to how much real oversight the trustees exercise on behalf of her Majesty while promoting her investments.
At least, in their defence, BrightHouse does not market any product as a Duchy Original.
John Edgar,
4 Merrygreen Place, Stewarton.
DEAR Mrs Windsor: With regard to your application for a grant towards your housing repairs I have to inform you that this has been declined.
The main reasons are that your capital in this country exceeds the statutory limit and also that the residence is under-occupied.
You have the right to appeal this decision but in the meantime we respectfully suggest that you could consider the viable option of offering some of your accommodation to your local council to help ease the homeless situation of which you may be aware.
If you have any queries regarding the above please contact your nearest office.
Tina Oakes,
4 Hanover Court, Stonehaven.
WHY shouldn’t the rich and corporations be exempt from taking part in building a decent and fair society? Why shouldn't they pay people more than a surgeon earns to hide their money? Tax is for ordinary decent people. Austerity and helping others is for us, the people.
The rich and powerful individuals and corporations have no concept of fairness, only greed and avarice. They survive because we use their shops and businesses and they control the government.
B Mckenna,
Overton Avenue, Dumbarton.
THOSE who have worked and saved all their lives would like to know why they are to be subject to a further double whammy (“Middle class face double blow of rates and income tax rise”, The Herald, November 3).
They already have a triple whammy higher council tax, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, and harder income tax bands) than England. Then there is capital gains tax, inheritance tax and extra National Insurance.
Nicola Sturgeon needs reminding that when income tax was 98p in the pound, there was no dancing in the streets and miserable living conditions abounded: absolute poverty was far worse than now.
Thanks to fairer, lower, taxes, life in Scotland has improved radically through entrepreneurship and free markets. Egalitarianism was tried and failed; time to learn from history, Ms Sturgeon.
Peter Smaill,
Currie Mains, Borthwick, Midlothian.
THE lead Letters Page on Saturday (November 4) was a joy to read, with the squeals of outrage and the howls of anguish from the comfortably off that they should have to pay a bit more to help to sustain some of our struggling public services. The groundless suggestions that monies raised will not be well used caused some amusement here. The Scottish Parliament by a large majority favours this tax increase on those who can afford to pay. The only party in our parliament opposing tax rises is naturally the "I am all right Jack, ring the bell conductor I am on the bus" party, guess which party that is?
No one likes paying tax but if we wish to live in and have a decent society, we pay even though grimacing.
R Mill Irving,
Station House, Station Road, Gifford, East Lothian.
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