So Ed Miliband is set to announce that a non-dom status is a symbol of tax avoidance that “makes Britain an offshore tax haven”.
He’s going to say that a Labour government would abolish the non-domicile rule that allows some wealthy UK residents to limit the tax paid on earnings outside the country.
As expected, Miliband is drawing a lot of criticism for his move.
The Tories lashed out at the Labour Party by making an infographic showing Ed Balls contradicting himself on the non-dom issue.
A rapid fire Tory rebuttal op under way on non-doms. Poster already out, looks in trouble after only 12 hours; pic.twitter.com/TS0ltfyg43
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) April 8, 2015
Chancellor George Osborne: “Labour is just tinkering around the edges”
“The small print of Labour’s policy makes clear that they are not actually abolishing non-dom status. Either they are going to abolish non-dom status altogether which would cost our country hundreds of millions of pounds in lost tax revenues and lost investment – the reason they did nothing on this during 13 years in office. Or they are just tinkering around the edges and making small adjustments to the rules on how long people can be non-dom.”
London Mayor Boris Johnson: “Miliband’s non-dom policy is anti-business”
Boris Johnson on Labour non-dom plans: “Once again Labour’s hostility to London and its aversion to business is clear.” #GE2015
— Peter Dominiczak (@peterdominiczak) April 8, 2015
Boris on non-dom plans:”Their plans are confused and chaotic and illustrate why only the Conservatives can be trusted with business.”
— Peter Dominiczak (@peterdominiczak) April 8, 2015
Dan Wagner, CEO of Powa Technologies: “We’ll lose heavyweight international investors”
“It is imperative that everyone pays a fair level of tax for each jurisdiction they operate in. The UK enjoys a prestigious status as a hub for the world’s heavyweight international investors and business leaders. Abolishing the current non-dom tax limits would risk many of these individuals taking their business elsewhere, cutting off a flow of finance that could far outstrip the additional tax revenues. The UK needs to retain its appeal as a pro-enterprise and business economy.”
Simon Walker, director general of the Institute of Directors, said: “This is a shrewd political move”
“Attacking non-doms is a shrewd political move, but the economics of the proposed reforms are unconvincing. It’s very unclear what additional revenue would be raised, but the UK’s international reputation would be put at risk. This country has benefited enormously from attracting some of the most successful businesses and entrepreneurs in the world, with the previous Labour government recognising the benefits of an internationally competitive tax system.
“While there may be little public sympathy for those who stand to be affected by reforms to non-dom status, the truth is that these things matter. There is a serious risk that large numbers of the international financial community, who have headquartered themselves in London at least in part because of our tax regime, will now exit the country. Politicians at the height of an election campaign may consider this a price worth paying, but we do not.”
Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, said: “Will Miliband back the removal of the so-called Mayfair loophole?”
“The planned Labour changes to non-dom status can’t come a moment too soon but this change alone is only one small step in tackling the epidemic of tax dodging that has damaged goverrnment revenue and meant the richest don’t pay their fair share.
“We’d introduce a tax dodging bill in the first 100 days of the parliament, and we’d levy a wealth tax to ensure that assets as well as income are considered when redistributing resources.
“The last four decades have seen wealth accumulate at the top of society while those at the bottom struggle to get by. We need bold policies to ensure that inequality, which even organisations like the IMF and the World Bank identify as an economic threat, is tackled.”
Bennett added a challenge to the Labour Party:”Will you back the removal of the so-called Mayfair loophole, which allows private equity bosses to dodge up to £700 million a year?”
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