Unless they defuse the issue, the Tories will face Ashcroft questions every day until the election

TrevorsDen

Only from Peter Hoskins it seems.

What not ask about the £15 million donated by Sainsbury. or the millions donated by Mittall etc.

Andy Leeds

May be true. But, Lord Ashcroft gave undertakings when he was ennobled. Can anyone prove he has not met these undertakings ? No. So other than publishing his tax returns what can he do to satisfy the likes of Cable ? Sod all I think. But again Lord Ashcroft is entitled to his privacy and one has to accept his word.

Chuck Unsworth

And Lord Paul?

David Lindsay

What does it tell you that they haven't come clean?

Nuff said.

Nick

...and Sir Ronald Cohen.

Desperate Dan

Lord Ashcroft's libel writs are all ready to be issued as soon as an election is called. Let him wait for the perfect moment.
- And now that the government have broken all the data protection laws by trawling through tax returns for party political purposes, we can look forward after the election to hearing all about the tax returns of Blair, Mandelson, Rothschild, Mittel, Levy, Paul, the whole cabinet and all Labour donors and politicians.

Peter Hoskin

TrevorsDens: erm, every other Coffee House writer has said the Tories should come clean on Ashcroft. So not just me...

the shade of dr kelly

perhaps this is a cunning plan and ashcroft will produce tax docs showing he has been paying full tax here fora while and make the libs and labs look rather stupid.

he can then attack their disgraceful insinuations and turn the attack on lord paul etc who seems not to be brought up!

ok - unlikely but would be good.

GeoffH

"And a spokesman for Ashcroft responded: "This will not represent a problem for Lord Ashcroft who looks forward to many happy years in the House of Lords." "

That does, of course, provide a full and clear answer.

What's he supposed to do? Appear in court before judge? Swear an affidavit?

Ashcroft like everybody else is entitled to privacy in his tax affairs. If he says DC's changes are 'Not a problem' for him then what else can he do?

But, neither Labour or LibDems will ever be satisfied until Ashcroft is driven out of the Lords and from these shores.

We all know about Lord Paul et al. They are a sore on the face of British politics but it's always been the case that the Left are forgiven these little difficulties and the Right are not.

That's as certain as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West. No use in complaining about it.

John

You should join the BBC Hoskins. They are devoted to this issue.

David H

The analysis is correct, and the potential damage is huge, UNLESS 1) Ashcroft reveals he has been a dom and resident here payiong taxes for many years or 2) The Tories can show that Labour are more culpable - Paul, Mittal etc.

lawrence greek

I don't see how they can kill this issue. Whatever details they provide will be a thread for critics to tug at further. Clearly Ashcroft's affairs are complex, there isn't a clear statement that they can give on this. It's a mess that should have been cleared up years ago, along with IHT for millionaires.

JohnBUK

Agree with Peter Hoskin, there's no point in shooting the messenger. Whether we like it or not this issue will run and run (and will lose potential Tory votes) until it is answered satisfactorily. Again there may be others on the left who also have skeletons but that doesn't absolve Cameron and Ashcroft from dealing with this problem.
In addition I'm surprised Cameron et al haven't pinned Liebor down over many of their "issues" - they seem to be giving them a smooth ride for some reason. Why would that be?

Michael Booth

I know its not on the same tax-non dom issue but what about Lord Ahmed and the threats he made against Parliament in order to stop Geert Wilders? Wasn't that shameful?

Holly ......

What about the legislation Harman said is to be 'brought forward'?
Did they have this in place BEFORE Cameron said he would bring in a law to cover this,
straight away?
What about the McDoodle who rushed out to slate Cameron and said, 'We do not need laws about this,we need leadership'?
Looks a right doodle now.
This is only staying in the news because the MSM want it to.
Why not concentrate on the job loses,economy or strikes?
Does anyone think the couple who saved up for three years for their Christmas holiday are going to vote Labour due to Ashcroft's tax status?
Or Scotland's airline, going bust staff are going to lose sleep over this non issue.
Ashcroft is not the cause of uncollected taxes.HMRC IS.
That is who should be looked into.
Why didn't the British PM do his job and stay for the last PMQ'S, instead of running off early to Copenhagen?
Could there have been economic questions?
Defence cuts questions?
How can Balls get More non existent money yet defence gets cut in the middle of a war we are fighting?
Just a thought on real topics for future debate.

Cogito Ergosum

No, GeoffH!

Lord A is in public life and must expect to publicise himself to a degree.

It is time he stopped being so stubborn and childish, and did the right thing for his party.

Chuck Unsworth

@ David H

Well 'culpable' is an interesting term. It's applicable both to legalities and moralities.

But I can't think of any Tory peer who ever has been obliged to stand down from the position of Deputy Speaker whilst his 'expenses' are investigated, who is a non-domiciled Privy Councillor and who has directly and indirectly funded the Prime Minister. Are there any?

Then again, what about Sainsbury's tax position? And what about the complex dealings of Deripaska and Usmanov and their particularly interesting interactions with various members of the Government?

I think The Spectator has lost sight of the realities. There are far more worrying matters than the tax position of Ashcroft. If there is any evidence that Ashcroft has acted illegally why has no one produced it after all this time? Let them make their formal complaints to the Inland Revenue, who, certainly, would be delighted to get their hand on his cash. So far there seems only to be a distasteful prurience which is merely politically driven.

I cannot believe that all these experienced journalists and investigators have been unable to find the (any) smoking gun - unless Ashcroft is actually blameless. They should put up or shut up. This whole non-story is being repeated to the point of terminal boredom.

TGF UKIP

What this is all about is Brown/Balls and co demonstrating that they can jerk the Cameron Greens around at will without any fear of fight back.

As other CHers point out Labour have more than their share of bunging non-doms but neither Womans Own favourite son in law nor any of the other limp and lame ever feel able to point this out. Small wonder that the political momentum has passed and that the Tory lead is shrinking by the week.

To cap it all I believe it's being rumoured down there that The Clique may now cast Lord A adrift. Huge strategic mistake which, course, I fervently hope they make.

Number7

@ lawrence greek

Point of information'

Under the Tory proposals, only millionaires will pay IHT.

You need at least GCSE Maths to understand this!

Only you and the entire Labour party seem to have a problem. - Probably why we are in an economic disaster.

JONNY

'Small wonder that the political momentum has passed and that the Tory lead is shrinking by the week'

Is that so TGF?
Or is it a dire mix of self-delusion and wish-fulfilment?
Watch this space matey.

jon dee

This follows James Forsyth's post, 1/11/09., when the same warning was given, yet still the door is left open for further attacks.

Ashcroft may well be an innocent victim and Cameron's pledge on peers is to be praised, but why oh why can't this affair be closed down, once and for all.

I remain annoyed with the secrecy surrounding Ashcroft's affairs because it invites the " low stuff " to which you refer.

Wake up Mr Cameron, this is doing you real harm.

THX1138

As much as it sticks is right TGF is right. CCHQ is full of talk of dumping Ashcroft, they have is money and now he's becoming a liability- Time to go. Perhaps like that other traitor Wheeler he can jump ship to your mob. You'll have anyone with a cheque book and dodgy right wing views.

If major Tory donor Lord Steinberg hadn't popped his clogs at The Ritz in November, Dave might have had the guts to wield the knife against Lord "nom dom" of Belize by now.

I'm a big fan of "Mumsnet" Dave (TGF isn't Womans Own a bit 1950's) but I'm starting to worry he ain't cut out for the street fighting it's going to take. I'd put the tactical nouse and mastery of the political dark arts of Campbell & Mandelson over Hilton, Catherine Fall & Nick Boles any day of the week. Who wouldn't?

Labour's tails are up and Twitter is full of "gameon" hash tags and who can blame them?

lawrence greek

@ Number7

Calling me a member of the Labour party is about the lowest insult I've ever been subjected to. You should apologise.

The point about IHT is that we (CoffeeHousers) all know who it affects but it doesn't stop Labour bashing them endlessly with it, and with some effect, given the polls. IHT always was a weak flank in the middle of a massive economic crisis, they should have been less stubborn and killed the issue dead when the recession hit. Instead they hang on to it, desperately claiming it's 'funded' whilst Labour claw their way back bit by bit. Even total idiots (Labour voters?) can see, if the funds are there for an IHT cut, those funds are better spent scrapping NI rises or lowering corporation tax - tax cuts that will actually stimulate the economy and benefit the masses. They would also have more political appeal. Clinging to IHT before the election is plain stupid. Do it five years down the track when we can afford it. Can you not see that?

Watt Tyler

Some people really like this intrigue, don't they, writing admiringly as they do about political dark arts. It is as though we have thoroughly bought into the game that has been made out of our ploitis: the point of government is to out-connive the opposition. The point of the opposition is to do the same to the government. Well, what with real power residing in the hands of Brussels, I suppose there is nothing else to be done.

It is of no surprise to me that some people, all of a certain ilk I suppose - and I mean those who think we have progressed since the 1950s, have fun watching this sort of thing going on - this non-government. Government to them, after all, is not about the people, but about the government.

It is no surprise to me that journalists who make a living on our not really being goverened properly keep inviting us to witness the plottings, and keep giving us insider knowledge of the gossip. In the real world, peoples lives are ruined.

Adam

The Conservatives are promising to extract tax from Non-Doms. Labour are not. So what is Harman's point? Labour is the only major party not to demand that legislators be fully UK resident for tax purposes. Is this really a good thing for her to highlight? It shouldn't be really. Seems a shame that even the Spectator have been bamboozled by this brazen BS.

Number7

@lawrence greek

I have re-read my post!

I questioned your maths, and in doing so likened it to the current shower we have in government.

I have no idea as to your politics and made no suggestion as to your voting intentions, neither do I care.

If the cap fits............. NO APOLOGY

TrevorsDen

' .... (et al). Sorry Mr H.

BTW
The comment about Brown missing PMQs is correct. There was no need for him to go today. Just a blatant piece of grandstanding. I see Gore is now forced to admit he was wrong (lying) about the Arctic being ice free in 5 years.

You have to feel sorry for the clinically insane demonstrators, getting hit over the head in the snow.
BTW(2)
WUWT say
" The Moscow-based Institute of Economic Analysis (IEA) issued a report claiming that the Hadley Center for Climate Change based at the headquarters of the British Meteorological Office in Exeter (Devon, England) had probably tampered with Russian-climate data.
The IEA believes that Russian meteorological-station data did not substantiate the anthropogenic global-warming theory.
Analysts say Russian meteorological stations cover most of the country’s territory, and that the Hadley Center had used data submitted by only 25% of such stations in its reports.
Over 40% of Russian territory was not included in global-temperature calculations for some other reasons, rather than the lack of meteorological stations and observations."

I suggest warmists look up 'cherry picking' ...

saltirethinking

Perhaps we could have a Referendum on Ashcroft.

Peter From Maidstone

lawrence the greek, I think that the Conservatives should be loudly explaining that their IHT proposals ARE A TAX ON MILLIONAIRES and that ONLY MILLIONARIES will pay it. It is a very easy concept that they should be using to their advantage. But they are not. The question is 'why not?'. If Harman had mentioned IHT to me in PMQs, I'd have said, 'You stupid woman. Do you not realise that our proposals are a tax on millionaires and that only millionaires will pay it. If you cannot grasp that simple fact then it is shameful that you have been left running the country'. Instead we get talk about the Christmas holiday.

John Moss

I know tax affairs are private between HMRC and the individual concerned, but there should be a mechanism by which HMRC can be asked to issue a statement confirming whether they consider a persons tax affairs to be in order or not.

We must also kill this idea that people, UK legislators included, can be barred from using their own money to invest in other countries and to pay tax in those countries rather than this county if it suits them. There are plenty of laws governing this and making sure foreign earnings are properly taxed if they are re-patriated.

Nicholas

" . . there should be a mechanism by which HMRC can be asked to issue a statement confirming whether they consider a persons tax affairs to be in order or not."

I can't believe conservatives are falling for this socialist guff. The above suggestion sounds like another of barmy New Labour's draconian, anti-privacy, anti-justice, "name and shame" outrages. Worthy of the arch-conniver Jack Straw that one. No, no, no.

Have you all forgotten principles? Party political point scoring is no justification for intrusion into personal and private matters. Public interest may be, but if it is then it should fall evenly and not just on the Tories. I am constantly astounded by, not just the blatent hypocrisy and finger-pointing of the Left (desperate to divert attention from their own abundant misdeeds and deceits), but the alacrity with which so-called conservatives seem ready to jump to that much played and well-known tune.

Wake up! It's time to see the bloody great timber in New Labour's eye and point that out to the commentariat, never mind the Ashcroft splinter in the Tories eye - which may not even be there anyway. When is the rotten, evil, malignant party that is New Labour finally going to get what they deserve?

strapworld

I think it is about time the Conservative leader actually stood by Ashcroft. He should just remind the people of theis country just what this man has done for Crime detection by his creation following the murder (slaughter) of the police officer in Tottenham at the Broadwater Farm riots.

That organisation has helped solved thousands of crimes, ensured thousands of criminals are where they should be and recovered much stolen property.He stills backs this organisation:- CRIME STOPPERS!

His purchases of the Victoria Cross and that collection being loaned to the Imperial War Museum.

This man has done more than any Liberal Democrat or Labour politician or donor has done in their lifetimes.

How many labour donors are Non Doms.

Should Non Doms not be allowed to add to our public life? This man has done far more than so many! What has, for instance, Lord Paul done for public life?

It is a stupid argument and why Cameron allows himself to be on the backfoot over this in ridiculous. He should come out fighting/ He should, but he will not because he aint a leader!! as simple as that.

Step aside Cameron!

GeoffH

"...but there should be a mechanism by which HMRC can be asked to issue a statement confirming whether they consider a persons tax affairs to be in order or not...."

Another variation on the guilty until proven innocent that infects the whole Ashcroft affair.

When will it be finally understood that Ashcroft's critics have not the slightest interest in the detail of his position.

He's a Tory and therefore GUILTY.

And by continually debating it on here and in such terms you are playing New Labour's game for them.

Maggie

Watt Tyler: "..the point of government is to out-connive the opposition..."

No it isn't. The point of government is to keep us safe warm well-fed and sheltered, increase our well-being and prosperity, provide the best education for our children, enable care for the sick and punish those who would do us harm.
It's because the government spends all its time "out-conniving the opposition" that they've ended up joining forces with biggest international crooks on the planet to do us the greatest possible harm. Gordon Brown isn't "out-conniving the opposition", he's conniving against the entire country.

Publius

Agreed, Nicholas. As usual the cub-journalists dance to Labour's tune.

Vulture

A one sentence statement would do it:
'Lord Ashcroft has fulfilled his promise to pay UK taxes'. The fact that it can't be made is yet another Achilles heel for Dave.

Privacy be bollocked - this is politics, and getting rid of Bruin and Liebour comes before Lord A's tax affairs.

Dorothy Wilson

Perhaps the Conservatives should promote a windfall tax of, say, 98%, on ex-~Prime Ministers who rake in a fortune on the back of misleading Parliament. At the rate Blair is going that tax will make a good contribution to paying off the national debt.

John David Barnett

Strapworld

Thanks for that list. Most of it is news to me.

I am afraid that the Conservatives seem have lost the plot this last couple of weeks. Have they been struck dumb or are they keeping their powder dry? Time is getting short and the lead continues to shrink.

Ian Walker

It's a total non-issue outside the Newsnight studio and the Westminster village.

Peter From Maidstone

Maggie, it is not amy Government's job to keep is well-fed and sheltered, or to increase our well-being or prosperity. That is OUR job. That is MY job in regards to my family. It is not the Government's job to provide an education for my children - that should be MY job. There are very few things a Government should be doing. They are the things that we cannot easily do ourselves, and in local organisations of people.

If you think that Government should be doing all these things then you are essentially a socialist - and I don't mean that as an insult to you personally, but the political philosophy which says that the Government should be taking care of everyone, instead of people taking care of themselves, and taking care of others in association with others is socialism.

Peter From Maidstone

Do we know that Blair is not a nom-dom? Why are the Conservatives not leaking that he is and then demanding that Labour provide evidence he is paying tax here?

Tankus

@Peter , I doubt he is a contributor to the party either , other than his minimum membership payments !