Football and Tax

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In the midst of the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth following England’s entirely predictable premature elimination from yet another football tournament comes a different take on our national sport in this week’s Private Eye.
It goes without saying that England are simply not good enough to compete effectively on the European (let alone World) stage and many experts have provided explanations for this from the over-coaching of youngsters to too much football played at the highest level. Private Eye, however, put it down to “state-sponsored tax dodging” and I think they have a point.

Due to the UK’s tax rules for non-domiciled residents, the world’s finest footballers can be attracted to this country in the knowledge that their astronomical wages will be largely untouched by the taxman by the use of completely legal offshore accounts. Further, it is cheaper and more tax efficient for an English football club to sign up foreign footballers than it is to invest in English players.

Since money is of course the main driving force of the English Premiership it is obvious that the development of home grown talent is way down on their list of priorities. It seems therefore that unless and until our tax laws are amended England (and all the home countries) will be doomed to perpetual failure and under achievement.

Welfare Attacks

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There will, of course, be much controversy over the Prime Minister’s announcement of plans to scrap Housing Benefit for under-25s and to introduce measures to stem the flow of taxpayers’ money on various other welfare benefits. Whatever he proposes, he is bound to meet strong resistance from his Coalition partners and his parliamentary opposition who seem to regard the State’s funds as an unlimited resource.
The fact of the matter is that the State’s coffers are not unlimited. On the contrary, we are in the grip of a severe recession that shows no sign of abating in the foreseeable future and it makes sense that the State should do all it can to ensure that funds are collected from all available sources and, once in the possession of the State, be spent wisely or preserved to try to keep us out of further economic misery.

That is easier said than done but practically it means that the Government must ensure that those able to contribute do so by paying their taxes (see Friday’s blog) and then try hard to avoid frittering it away whether it be on pointless foreign adventures (Iraq and Afghanistan), by ill-conceived and inefficient domestic policies (too many examples to list) or by throwing it at citizens who have no intention of ever contributing to society. The latter has the Prime Minister’s attention at the moment and whilst there is undoubtedly a sickening culture of scrounging in this country, it must not be forgotten that, as a (relatively) civilized society we have a duty to protect the weak, infirm and severely disadvantaged.

The Prime Minister is right to address the problem of benefit fraud and the culture of getting something for nothing but there has to be a balance. By all means, prevent able-bodied citizens from claiming benefit when they are offered and decline reasonable offers of employment but don’t punish those without the choice or the chance of climbing out of the mire and advancing themselves. Restrictions on the granting of Housing Benefit should undoubtedly be put in place but whether it is right to deny a whole group, such as those under 25, is a matter for careful consideration and debate.

Reality Check

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Our Prime Minister referred to comedian Jimmy Carr as being “morally wrong” in arranging his finances in such a way that he pays minimal tax to the State. Other than the fact that Carr is a high profile figure, who has since declared that he has “made a terrible error of judgement” (and he would say that, wouldn’t he?), why pick on him?

Tax avoidance is rife in this country, and I’m sure all over the world, and Jimmy Carr is merely one of hundreds of thousands in England alone. Those who govern us need to face and deal with reality rather than preach from the pulpit and moralize on society’s wrongs. The reality is that man is, was and always will be a greedy avaricious creature and power and money corrupt. Those truths are unalterable and are sadly without cure. There is no point in criticizing those who pay millions of pounds each year to flashy lawyers and tax accountants to arrange their affairs to the detriment of the taxman because they won’t do anything about it. Money is their God and for many is their sole raison d’etre.

The Prime Minister is right, it is immoral (but not illegal) to avoid tax, especially when the miscreants still reap the benefit of all the services that the State provides with money taken from those who are morally sound or, as in the case of PAYE employees, have no choice but to pay their taxes. What the Prime Minister and his Government have to do is close down all the legal  loopholes that the immoral exploit so that they too have no choice but to pay their full contribution to the State’s coffers.

It’s a matter of common sense and is really quite simple to remedy. Parliament needs to pass legislation compelling every UK citizen and/or resident of the UK to pay tax on all  his or her personal and corporate earnings. It needs to pass legislation ending forthwith the benefits of off-shore banking and tax havens and ensure that every last penny is accounted for to the Exchequer. It will, of course, require some top lawyers and accountants to put this in place and make it completely watertight but the Government surely has these people at its disposal.

Most importantly, the necessary legislation will require the political will and sound morality of those who govern us and that, when I think about it, is why it will probably never happen.

A Close Run Thing

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Today is the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, June 18th 1815, one of the most significant days in British and indeed, world history. On this day Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, Britain’s finest soldier since the Duke of Marlborough, faced the French army led by the military genius  Napoleon Bonaparte in what would effectively decide the future of Europe.

As we all know, Wellington, aided by the late arrival on the field of battle by the Prussians under Marshall Blucher, defeated the French ending, once and for all, the threat of Napoleon. It was a closely fought battle and but for the courage and skill under pressure of the unflappable and ever-cool Wellington, the bravery of his troops and some uncharacteristic indecisiveness by Napoleon things could have turned out rather differently. Indeed, Wellington himself referred to his victory as “the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life”.

For Britain, the victory meant the removal of the threat of invasion and for the next 100 years she lived in prosperity and for the main part in peace (an era known as “Pax Britannica”) free to develop the greatest empire the world had ever seen. I wonder how many of our schoolchildren know of this day and, for that matter, how many of their teachers?

A Day of Reckoning?

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Next Sunday, June 17th, could be a very important day for the European Union. On that day Greece goes to the polls following the election a couple of months ago where no major party was able to form a government. Speculation is now rife that unless a stable Greek government is in place to see through the austerity measures required by Germany, and therefore Europe, Greece could leave the Euro and possibly the European Union itself. If this were to happen then the consequences could be disastrous for not just Europe but the world economy as a whole.

The question is, will Germany, as the dominant European partner, allow this to happen? Put another way can the Germans  afford to allow Greece to exit the Euro? Many individual Germans clearly feel that they should not be responsible for propping up the inefficient economies of other European countries and that their hard work ethic should not be watered down by the easy come easy go attitude of some of their European partners. If I were a German I would feel exactly the same way but the fact is, they have been led into this mess by their own government.

 There is no way that Greece should ever have been allowed into the Euro in the first place and they are not alone either. The liberals who rule the undemocratic mire that is Europe have always put their misguided dogma above reality and their dream of a politically united federal Europe has overridden every other consideration. Germany and also France are responsible for the problems now faced by Europe and whilst we can afford some sympathy for the German people none should be spared for their deceitful government nor any of the other governments (including our own) who have lied to us constantly over the last 40 years or so as they have pursued their dream of European unity whatever the cost.
Germany may well bail out and save Greece by issuing European bonds and they may well do the same for Spain, Ireland, Portugal and Italy but it will come at a price and that price is more political power to Europe and a loss of national sovereignty. As for us British, though we may suffer economically, we can at least thank our lucky stars that Tony Blair was thwarted in his attempts to drag us into the Euro and that whatever happens to the rest of Europe we will, at least, retain our independence and integrity. We can thank Blair’s former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, for that.

A Brief History of Football

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Football (or soccer as it is also known) is generally acknowledged to have been invented by the English and the first ever football club, Sheffield, was founded in 1857. Within a few years a professional Association Football league was established and, as the British Empire prospered and expanded the game was exported to all corners of the globe. (The name “soccer”, by the way, is derived from the word “Association”). Soon the game was played the world over and by the middle of the twentieth century football was the most popular game on the planet.
In England, the domestic football league thrived and every town in the country had a team in either the national Football League or in one of the many so-called feeder leagues in the lower reaches of the football pyramid. Football had truly become the nation’s favourite sport. By the l960s there were four divisions of the professional Football League although, by the turn of the century the top division had broken away from the League and had become the self governing Premier League or Premiership as it is also known.
 
As well as the League competition the top clubs compete in two major cup competitions, the FA Cup and the League Cup and at the elite level clubs also compete against European opposition for two further cups. You’d think that since we invented this game and boast the home of football in Wembley Stadium, Londonthat, nationally, we would be European or World Champions on a regular basis. Sadly not and, in fact, our record would seem to indicate that we’re not very good at football at all!
 
Apart from one isolated World Cup success in 1966, and even then we were the tournament hosts, our history is one of near misses and unmitigated disaster! Many football experts have tried to come up with an explanation for our repeated failure and have tried even harder to find a remedy but to no avail. Will we just have to accept that Johnny Foreigner is invariably blessed with superior skills and leave it at that or can there be further glory just around the corner for the English?
 

Whatever the future holds for English football there are still those among us who can remember that wonderful summer’s day in July 1966 when Bobby Moore and his band of immortals lifted the World Cup bringing  joy to the nation, causing old men to weep with pride and a generation of younger men to yearn for the day when England can once again be called the champions of the world!   


                                            

Tail Wags Dog?

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Football fever is with us once again and the nation holds its breath as the England team try yet again to recapture the spirit of ’66. For once the expectations are toned down and even the jingoistic tabloids are not holding out that much hope of success. There seems to be a softly softly approach to Euro 2012 by the England team and a feeling that, whilst we may not be in the same league as say Spain or Germany (and about a half a dozen others!), we may just creep up on the outside, get lucky and snaffle the trophy as did the unfancied Danes in 1992 and the Greeks in 2004. Maybe.

There always has to be some controversy over team selection whether it be pinning our hopes on  injured players such as David Beckham a few years back or, as now, leaving out experienced older players who may or may not be up to the rigours of what will undoubtedly be a vigorously contested tournament. The controversy this time is over the exclusion of Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand who the team manager, Roy Hodgson, has overlooked in favour of a young inexperienced defender, Martin Kelly of Liverpool. That is the manager’s prerogative and it is surely his decision who plays in his team.

Not so according to certain tabloids and indeed by people in Ferdinand’s camp. His agent called his omission “disgraceful” and “a lack of respect” and Ferdinand is evidently fuming, but so what, the manager’s decision is final and the dog wags the tail, not the other way round. Better for Ferdinand and all around him to accept the decision with grace and respect, a word you will find that is much used and abused in football circles these days.

Another player, Micah Richards of Manchester City, refused to be placed on the standby list so upset was he by his omission from the original squad. He evidently took offence because he was notified of his non-selection by Hodgson’s assistant, Stuart Pearce, rather than by Hodgson himself. Pearce incidentally has over 70 England caps to his name, is the coach of England Under 21s and the coach of the 2012 Great Britain Olympic Football squad so is hardly a mere skivvy. Who on earth do these players think they are? Why should the manager speak personally to every player who thinks he deserves a chance of selection? It is an honour and not a God-given right to be chosen to play for your country at any sport and thousands would give anything to be selected for an England squad.

Roy Hodgson has a reputation for building teams out of meagre resources (just as well in England’s case!) and it is the team that matters, not individuals. Clearly, it may prove difficult getting that message across to some of the overpaid and overated prima donnas who ply their trade in the English Premier League.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

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Only the most cynical or curmudgeonly could fail to be moved by the celebrations marking the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend. The outburst of genuine love and affection from the vast majority of her people, the riot of colour of the red, white and blue flags, bunting and Union Flag outfits have taken us back to a more innocent time and have served to remind us that this country has a history, heritage and tradition that is the envy of most of the world.

Whatever your views on the monarchy, it has to be said that our Queen has been a wonderful servant to her country and to her Commonwealth. In 60 years of unbroken and dedicated service she has witnessed some of the most significant events ever witnessed by mankind. Man has landed on the moon, has made vast leaps in medicine and technology and has created the internet which perhaps more than any other invention or discovery has quite simply revolutionised our lives.

She has witnessed too the sad decline of her country and the break-up of the once all-powerful British Empire. She has seen incredible social change and a total revolution in the way we now live our lives. There are still some (a small minority it has to be said) who would prefer a republic and a leader elected democratically by the people, a politician with all the bias and prejudice that that would entail, a vote winner anxious to cling to power at whatever cost. Can you imagine a President Blair or Brown? No, monarchy may have its faults (and I have never agreed with inherited privilege) but it is the best system we could have and is far better than the alternative.

Eight of ten Britons were born during her reign and still she is there with us, the one constant, comfort even, in all our lives. The fact that she is held with such obvious love and affection by her people is a huge tribute to her dedication and service to us all. Her reign should be celebrated and treasured because we will never see her like again.

A Load of Rubbish

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We all know what a big problem we have in this country with litter and waste disposal whether it be louts throwing McDonalds cartons out of car windows or low lives dumping old mattresses and settees by the roadside. However, it’s good to know that the Government recognises the problem and is doing all it can to alleviate it – by increasing the cost of dumping waste!

Yes, the latest stroke of genius to emanate from the corridors of power (in this case HM Revenue and Customs) is a huge increase in the cost of waste disposal which in effect is an invitation to fly-tip on an epic scale. Evidently, the cost of dumping some types of waste has gone up from £2.50 to £64 per tonne according to the Independent newspaper.
Of more relevance is the fact that the cost of emptying a skip has gone up from £144 to £300 and in the middle of a deep recession that is some increase. So concerned are national waste disposal companies that they have already staged a protest in Parliament Square and are predicting not only a huge increase in the illegal dumping of rubbish but also the loss of thousands of jobs in the waste disposal industry.
What on earth is going on in Whitehall and Westminster? Does nobody in Parliament have even a modicum of common sense?  We can only hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer can be persuaded to realise that this is yet another gaffe by his accident-prone Government and he will smartly effect another U turn to match the other half dozen or so since the disastrous March budget. I wouldn’t hold my breath though.

Syrian Tragedy

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Over the weekend 108 people (34 of whom were children) were killed by Government forces in Houla, Syria. President  Assad’s bloody repression of his people goes on unabated and unchecked amidst dithering by the international community.  It looks like it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better (if it ever does get better) and thousands more innocents will lose their lives as the world watches on helplessly. Already, it has been estimated that some 13,000 innocents have lost their lives in the last year alone.

The United Nations Charter allows action to be taken to safeguard “human rights and fundamental freedoms” and to  prevent the kind of slaughter occurring on a daily basis in Syria. The problem, as ever, seems to be political will. Any action needs the support of the UN’s Security Council and one of the Council’s members, Russia refuses to support any intervention by the UN. Syria is an important trading partner of Russia and Russia, like most countries, sad to say, puts its economic and political interests above any other interest: certainly well above the lives of a few thousand innocent civilians.
In the past we’ve seen unilateral action taken to prevent this kind of tragedy and the West’s invasion of Iraq comes swiftly to mind. That was different though, wasn’t it? There was a threat to oil supplies when Saddam was strutting his stuff in the Middle East. Sadly for the Syrian people their country ranks number 31 in the oil producing league (one place below North Dakota) and so, as with Zimbabwe where innocents continue to be slaughtered by a deranged megalomaniac, their suffering doesn’t really seem to matter. Money talks, human lives do not.