Crony PM in donor tax-dodge lies claim
David Cameron, photo Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
James Ivens
Allegedly, Prime Minister David Cameron fibbed and fibbed about political sugar daddy Lord Ashcroft’s filching ‘non-dom’ tax status.
So says the peer himself. His new book exposes the excess and pettiness of life at the top.
Billionaire Ashcroft came under fire in 2010 for using a loophole to dodge taxes. ‘Non-domiciled’ status allowed him to only pay the tiny rate charged by tax haven Belize.
Cameron claimed total ignorance till a month before the scandal. And this was only after trying to wriggle out of persistent Freedom of Information requests.
Now the former Conservative treasurer and deputy chair says Cameron knew all about it – the previous year.
Donations
Ashcroft personally donated £8 million to rescue the Tories from financial ruin. This was doubtless unrelated to Cameron’s weaselling.
It now seems the peer felt hurt after not being offered a top gig in government.
The book, Call Me Dave, makes lurid accusations about Cameron’s personal life (‘Moral snoutrage’ in this issue’s Them & Us).
But more importantly, it makes serious allegations against the leader who tried to “detoxify” the ‘Nasty Party’ brand. Lies, incompetence and crony crapulence appear like mould growing back through a fresh coat of paint.
Cameron’s governments have slashed billions from jobs and services for working class people. He has condemned the poor and jobless as lazy. He says we need to “balance the books”.
Chums
But his chums – with more cash than any of us could ever spend – refuse to chip in.
The Daily Mail, a staunch Tory tabloid, is leading the assault. The drooling reactionaries that run it see even this aristocratic axeman as too ‘liberal’ on social issues, immigration and the EU. They think Cameron too decadent and militarily inept to lead.
But for us, corrupt establishment politicians are all the same. They – and their grease-spattered paymasters – have got to go.
Close the tax loopholes. Kick out the cuts politicians. Join the Socialist Party to fight for socialism.
