BTRFTG

Nicked header from a corner, I recall.

The Grauniad, that once fine newspaper brought low. A Rag dependant these past decades on the (once offshore) Scott Trust, the reserves of which they've decimated. The Rag who sack journalists on union minimum and replace with (parental subsidised) interns. The Rag who under the guise of terrorist attack sacked their printers to sub out to publishers they profess to attack in print though who in secret they adore and whose profits they engorge. The Rag whose badly and inaccurately bigoted wrote comes with an obligatory begging letter attached (it costs to produce untruth nobody believes or wishes to read so please donate such we may keep drinking our oat milk skinny lattes...) The Rag whose front page carries the horror that half Britain's kids go to bed hungry but fear not and turn to the supplement where you'll enjoy a list of the 10 'must have' shorts no discerning man may be seen without this summer (the cheapest of which retails at £350 a pair from Arsecheeks in Camden.) The Rag who'll implore those on benefits to cook not cheese on toast but Scallops and Samphire (just ensure those scallops are fresh, hand dived, not frozen - they taste so much better and are much kinder to the environment.) Plus, and most importantly, since Araucaria passed their crossword's gone to pot and that for ages was the only reason to buy it.

Welcome (back) to The Championship Frank ....

That's because I think the tale you recount (incorrectly) is he didn't earn a penny hence paid little or no tax. His wife on the other hand was paid an enormous sum in dividends which because she was domiciled in Monaco led her to pay no tax. The moral of that tale for those who think the solution to fiscal shortfall is to raise tax is those that have the means so to do have no issue in moving their wealth offshore, leaving all us poor sods domiciled here to pick up the full cost. Google 'Laffer Curve' and you'll get the picture.

It's been that way for some time but lest not forget it still affords the best part of a year sitting on monies those on PAYE will already have paid. And seriously if you aren't disciplined enough to manage that you really shouldn't be self-employed. Ditto, if you know your circumstances are likely to change you don't have to pay the estimated sum in advance.

You may jest but he deliberately did exactly that. He purchased the building in which we had a leasehold and also the one next door in Fetter Lane, in which he housed his apartment. That he renamed in bold as brass lettering 'Maxwell House'. Never shy of publicity was Cptn Bob.

Maxwell of course being his 6th or 7th surname (it remains unclear....)

So what taxes does Landown (in your parlance) 'dodge'? Go on, what have you uncovered? I think you'll find he pays all taxes demanded and unlike Morris that makes him an upstanding custodian.

Contrary to the tabloid press view of the world the rich don't pay folks to create savings, rather the rich are sold tax avoidance schemes by big business, making themselves rich in the process. Using a comparison site is pretty much the same principle. It's also the case that tax legislation is nigh on impossible to draft such it covers all eventuality with common interpretation. 'Loop holes' only exist once those who seek them define and create them.

It's very British to link 'wealth' and 'class' save there's no direct correlation. I've met a few rich, mega rich and apparently mega rich individuals and the first thing you note is whether they're 'old' or 'new' money. The former are often hard to spot, some have no pretentions, a few you'd feel like giving your last fiver. Most ooze class because they grow up appreciating constraint, their privilege and bear the responsibility of their position. New or apparent money on the other hand tends to come with entitlement ostentation and a distinct lack of class. There are 'new' types with class but these tend to be self-made, from unprivileged but supportive backgrounds, who appreciate their roots. I mentioned in another thread I've dined with Maxwell (apparent wealth, wholly lacking class.) I also once dined with Murdoch ( who many incorrectly believe inherited his fortune from his father - he's pretty much self-made,) and a more erudite, pleasant and deferential Billionaire you couldn't wish to meet. Class act. Yes in the UK save Derby, where its 15/16....

Lansdown doesn't keep his 'money' offshore'. If he did he might keep it in the UK, that being outside his domicile. Do you think it disgusting that other overseas citizens decide not house their assets in the UK? Why should they?

Again that's not money, it's power. Rich folks are often cited as being 'tight' or 'mean' because they appear to have such behaviours but usually it's a means by which they are able to control folks over whom they have little control.

Mind you, if you've no kids or family it's easier to leave ones estate to the government.

Clue - it's NOT about the money. It's about fame, attention, power and all those traits that drove such folks to accumulate such monies in the first place.

Fear not, there are many, many advantages provided, that is, unlike Derby you haven't spent what should have been put aside to pay HMRC.

Feel better that those on PAYE have no chance to defer suffering the hurt....

Lansdown hasn't 'saved' (sic) tax. He pays what taxes fall due in whatever jurisdiction applies. That's how tax works . Do you pay taxes you're not liable to pay, do you make voluntary donations? As for 'tax havens', what they? Any jurisdiction with lower tax rates than the UK? If so, you're not a fan of much of the world's population. Where a foreign state has other sources of income such citizens aren't taxed, should they be admonished simply because here in the UK we are taxed?

I don't blame them for being bitter or if they still are. They were given little notice as to what was about to happen to them. They went from security to insecurity within a matter of hours, much as anybody else facing enforced redundancy undergoes. Horrible and easy to understand why they needed to protect their own. Like City players to this day their bitterness probably relates to the realization they'd never, ever get a deal as good as that they were presently on. But like anybody else who's been escorted to the door clutching their P45 and minimum statutory redundancy it's unlikely you were offered hero status by colleagues or shareholders for sacrificing your lot to save the company.

As I say, The PFA official history is a good starter and amazing to think this was Taylor's first day on the job. It also opened the floodgates for as soon as he looked into City's plight he was contacted by other clubs stating they'd soon have to act likewise. Taylor resolved to take a pragmatic view as to how best to protect all members interests, the first of which was to guard all parties against offering over long contract terms.

OTOH there were plenty who exploited Cptn Bob's megalomaniac desire for attention and power and did very well for themselves on the back of it, not all of whom were senior staff members. His brown envelopes to printers every important edition were famed. I knew one old 'Kodjia' who spent his Saturdays drinking in a local watering hole (empty at weekends.) His sole function was to open the roof door to the helipad at 6pm each Saturday night when Bob arrived to review the first stones of the Mirror & People's Sunday pages. He then locked up when Bob left 50 mins later. For that he picked up in the region of £250 (this being mid 80s).

Funny that reports today say administrators told Bomo their £250k in installments had to be £500k paid in full, immediately. Perchance Wayne isn't being fully kept abreast of matters......

Save that's not what happened and hindsight isn't required. The 8 knew exactly the stark decision they had to make: hold out for everything, become creditors and end up with little else take the negotiated deal on offer. Forget not their decision was taken to the wire with the players and PFA trying to extract every last cent they could. Taylor pressured them to consider the other players who weren't getting their registrations or payoffs. He quickly realised City's board were truthful when stating if these contracts weren't annulled they'd have no option other than to call in the administrators. Taylor knew the contracts might never realistically be discharged. The players delay is what incurred the wrath of fans. There was no consideration for the club, the 8 were initially very bitter and vocal about the way they'd been treated. The footage of them repeating the PFA's official line (through gritted teeth) lingers.

Again that's not strictly true. City would have gone bust but salvation was in the ground being ring-fenced (a la Derby.) A phoenix City would have emerged and irrespective at which level they might have started would still have had the hardcore of support that turned out to watch the 'kids and crocks' - and we shouldn't forget the heroism of some of those coming out of retirement or having the guts to pull on a shirt knowing they were light years out of their depth. Though many players of that era were truly talentless they didn't receive the ferocity of criticism they'd get today. They gave it a go. They gave their best and for little reward. That's heroism that deserves celebrating.

Sounds about right.

I met and lunched with him a few times in his apartment and have many mates who worked (still work) at his publications. Odd fellow, never to be trusted, as was known at the time. Just read John Preston's biog of him, decent account of the times and of those who knew him.