10:13am Thursday 11th March 2010
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.
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