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Hague's judgement

10:13am Thursday 11th March 2010 in


RECENT disclosures about William Hague’s involvement with the Belize-based deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, Lord Ashcroft, raise serious concerns.

We now know that in 2000 Lord Ashcroft promised to take up permanent residence here in exchange for the peerage requested for him by Mr Hague.

In the years since, did his close friend never confirm that Lord Ashcroft had actually done as promised? Did it suit Mr Hague and the Tories’ purposes not to ask? Only challenges through the Freedom of Information Act have forced Lord Ashcroft to acknowledge his non-compliance.

Does it seem intelligent, let alone fair, for Mr Hague to be allied with a billionaire tax exile, a man who enjoys the British lifestyle and House of Lords’ benefits while avoiding tax payment on the bulk of his income (projected as possibly tens of millions by Mr Hague when lobbying for the said peerage).

How much of this tax could have been ploughed into schools, hospitals or the Armed Forces?

The argument that such action is not illegal gives rise to the same anger felt when MPs tried to justify their excessive expenses claims as “within the rules”.

The whole saga casts serious doubts on Mr Hague’s judgement. When the General Election comes, the voters will have their say.

Sheila Clarke, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Comments(9)

chriswhite says...
10:24am Thu 11 Mar 10

Why exactly should he pay UK tax on income neither earned in nor remitted to the UK? Why do you feel entitled to his money?

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David Lacey says...
10:32am Thu 11 Mar 10

Chris

I totally agree with you. He broke no rules (unlike the jokers who are in court today charged with theft), kept out of the limelight and got on with his life as he is entitled to do. With regard to the election, is Ms Clarke seriously suggesting that Hague WON'T be re-elected

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dolanp1 says...
11:24am Thu 11 Mar 10

I would like someone to give a realistic reason why any of these people should even be considered for being allowed into the House of Lords, non have ever served in British politics but are now, because of their funding of political parties, allowed to buy their way into the political system and be part of the legal system that makes laws which the rest of us must comply with.

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The Grim North says...
12:54pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Whatever happened to Labour's vision of an elected House of Lords. Oh now I remember, it was another lie like "Britsh jobs for British workers", the promise of a "EU referendum" etc etc.

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J.Moffatt says...
3:20pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Hague has always chased money.He has never been anthing but a part time MP any way,just look at all his directorships and after dinner speaking.
This grubby saga with Mr Belieze at least has exposed Hague as the lying idiot many have long suspected him of being.
Tory boy its time to retire from politics but you wont cos you have NO HONOUR.

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JS2 says...
4:09pm Thu 11 Mar 10

The Conservative(s) prospective candidate for D'ton must have plenty of money. What with the 4 page spread on the the D'ton Advertiser. Is the Advertiser now a Tory Newsletter? That should bring in some income for the Echo.
Also advertising on the side of the buses. You can tell he's another rich barrister. That's all we need yet another lawyer as an MP. We all know what lawyers and MP are all in it for.

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David Lacey says...
4:40pm Thu 11 Mar 10

Hague isn't in court this week charged with fiddling expenses unlike some others.

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Durham Reiver says...
9:30am Sat 13 Mar 10

The political officer, Charlie Whelan, of the union Unite which has given the labour party £11million over 3 years is now part of Gordon Brown's inner circle plotting the election campaign. Does the word corruption not spring to mind?

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*shakes head slowly* says...
3:00pm Tue 16 Mar 10

If Edward Legrand's so rich, why does he always wear the same pale blue jumper in his publicity picture of him wondering where Darlington is?

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