Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
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Local MP challenges minister over tax loopholes for non-domiciles on the day that Lib Dems launch new tax on the 'super-rich'
Local MP Norman Baker last week quizzed the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jane Kennedy MP, over the Government’s review of the tax rules governing people resident in the UK with 'non-domicile' status who are currently cashing-in on significant tax loopholes.
Mr Baker highlighted the fact that the Government’s so-called Review of these rules has been going on for 5 years so far, having started as long ago as 2002 and he challenged the Minister to provide a satisfactory explanation for the inordinately long timeframe.
The local MP also took the opportunity to query whether the delay could in any way be linked with the fact that the Labour party has benefited from very large donations of money from some people with non-domiciled status.
Mr Baker’s challenge to the Treasury came on the same day as the launch of the Lib Dems new radical tax plans which cut the basic rate of income tax to its lowest level since 1916, benefiting millions of people on low and middle incomes. These cuts would be paid for by making the rich and people with environmentally damaging lifestyles pay a fairer share of tax and by removing tax loop-holes currently exploited by the 'super-rich'.
Commenting, Norman Baker said:
"I am glad to have been able to highlight one of this country’s tax loopholes which disproportionately benefit many of the country’s super-rich who have non-domiciled status, some of whom are coincidentally generous donors to the Labour party. This kind of loophole urgently needs to be addressed in order to make this country’s tax system fairer. The unacceptable reality in Britain today is that the poorest in society pay a higher proportion of their income in tax than the super-rich.
"The Lib Dems’ new tax plans address this by closing off loopholes and using the money brought in as a result to cut the basic rate of national income tax to the lowest basic rate since 1916 to ensure that low and middle income earners no longer have to shoulder too heavy a tax burden. Our proposals also reform stamp duty and inheritance tax so that people who were not originally intended to pay these taxes no longer do so. Under our proposals tax cuts for the majority will be paid for by the wealthy minority, as well as those with environmentally damaging lifestyles."