Liberal values
What Liberal leader Nick Clegg said in his keynote conference speech:
We will raise the income tax threshold to £10,000, funded by closing loopholes that the wealthy exploit. And by making sure polluters pay for the damage they cause.
I'll be honest. If you've got a house worth over a million pounds. If you fly trans-Atlantic a couple of times a month. If you get a seven-figure bonus paid in share options to get round income tax.
You will pay more. That is what is fair.
Why on earth should you get tax subsidies paid for by people whose salaries are just a tiny fraction of yours? I don't want to penalise people who work hard. If you can make it big: all credit to you.
But what it should win you is respect, not exemption from your tax bill.
And how does he behave in 'private'...
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader who has championed the reform of MPs’ expenses, claimed the maximum allowed under his parliamentary second home allowance ... as well as submitting regular claims for food, gardening, furniture and decorating at his constituency home in Sheffield Hallam, Mr Clegg put in his telephone costs, including several international calls to Colombia, Vietnam, and Spain.
Records seen by The Daily Telegraph show that Mr Clegg regularly claimed at or just below the maximum possible under the additional costs allowance, which may be used by MPs to run a second home ... last year, he had his expenses docked after exceeding the £23,083 maximum by more than £100. His office manager wrote to the Commons fees office: “This month’s claim takes Nick over the allowance total (just).”
The disclosure came as Mr Clegg made a series of high profile media appearances criticising the allowances system
Pot, kettle calling ... your a black b*stard
Comments
Politician, he's still breathing which is why he shouldnt be trusted.
Posted by: TimC | September 24, 2009 12:02 PM
Perhaps it is an honest mistake, he might well think liberal is short fot libertine not liberterian??
Posted by: chris edwards | September 24, 2009 12:04 PM
"If you get a seven-figure bonus paid in share options to get round income tax. "
He's a Grade 1 Moron. No income tax is paid on the options because at grant they are usually worth essentially zero.
When you exercise them however, you realise a gain and that is indeed taxed. So what's his quibble?
Posted by: Cleanthes | September 24, 2009 2:47 PM
Hm. Well manicured hands, tailored suit, silk tie and high quality shirt.
Artfully tousled hair and possibly even a facial.
Couldn't get a gander at his teeth.
Posted by: Cricket | September 25, 2009 4:33 PM