Fast news

Non-dom Lords

TORY DEPUTY chairman Lord Ashcroft became the focus of the non-domiciled 'non-dom' scandal, whereby rich tax exiles influence Britain's legislation.

After more then ten years, he now says he will give up his non-dom status and start paying taxes.

Five rich 'nom-dom' members of the House of Lords have resigned their peerages rather than pay tax. Facing a deadline compelling them to pay UK taxes on earnings abroad if they wish to remain Lords, five of them chose to keep their fabulous wealth intact.

Three are Tories, including Lord Laidlaw who donated Ł4 million to the Conservatives, ex-treasurer Lord McAlpine, and Lord Bagri, ex-chairman of the London Metal Exchange. But ex-peers can still use their titles! Once a peer, always a peer it seems.

Privatisers' gain

RICHARD MARCHANT, head of local government strategic partnerships at Capita, a FTSE-100 company which works for councils in Harrow, Swindon, Southampton and Sheffield, said recently:

"A major problem for the public sector is, we feel, a significant opportunity for us. Opportunities are at their highest level in two to three years. This year we have probably seen a 100% increase in opportunities [compared with 2009] and I suspect we will see another 50% increase in the following year."

So remember that when politicians tell you cuts are necessary - the net effect is to channel public money into the capacious pockets of privatisers like Capita. Capita profited greatly from the former New Labour government's privatisation agenda. The unions should oppose the privatisation agenda whichever canaille is in power!