Cable, the Lib Dems’ Treasury Spokesman, Describes Government as “Spineless” Over Preferential Tax Treatment of ‘Non-Doms’
Photo of Vincent Cable, Treasury Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, courtesy of The Guardian
THE GUARDIAN: 'If we are not careful, Russian and Ukranian oligarchs living in £80m houses might go somewhere else,' Vince Cable tells Lib Dem conference. 'That's tough. Let them go'

Gordon Brown was severely criticised by Vincent Cable today for allowing the "super-rich" to avoid having to pay their fair share of taxation.

Cable, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokesman, condemned what he described as "our spineless government" for allowing the rich to enjoy tax breaks not available to the poor.

"The idea that the super-rich should be elevated above taxation is immoral and deeply insulting to those on modest incomes who pay their full whack of tax," Cable said, in a speech to his party's spring conference in Liverpool.

The Liberal Democrats would make the so-called "non-doms" - foreign workers who enjoy tax breaks - pay full taxes after seven years of living in the UK, he said. Tax super-rich properly, Cable tells Brown >>> By Andrew Sparrow, senior political correspondent | Saturday March 8 2008

TIMESONLINE:
‘Non-dom’ peers face ousting By Francis Eliott

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’Non-Doms’ on the Run
THE TELEGRAPH: International lawyers are descending on London to persuade British non-domiciles to re-locate as pressure grows on the Chancellor to delay controversial plans to levy £30,000 a year on foreigners resident in the UK.

Seminars are being organised by foreign lawyers in London to act as shop windows to persuade tax experts to advise their clients to move away from the UK.

One of London's leading tax advisers to the UK's non-dom community said: "The UK Government really has no idea how much of a spectacular own-goal it has scored. It is totally depressing how many Irish, Swiss and Dutch lawyers are swarming all over our clients now in London, and the clients are listening to what was previously dismissed as jealous propaganda."

Dutch firm Loyens & Loeff is typical of international law firms setting up events to explain to advisers how their non-dom clients can benefit by leaving the UK. Foreign lawyers target City non-doms >>> By Sophie Brodie

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