Dear Russell...

[jmo21]

I think the point was that he is renting his house from a company that is based offshore and his 79 grand a year rent is not being taxed. Brand knew that was going to come out so went on the attack.

So yes, he has some cheek and yes he is a hypocrite.

Do we definitely know that he knew that?

[OwlHoot]

And the knobjockey replies

I don't believe Brand wrote a word of that. It's way too subtle and incisive

[minestrone]

Do we definitely know that he knew that?

He must have known, it would have been on the contract that the landlord was offshore when he signed it, the landlord bank account details would have been clearly offshore. Anyone that rents a place no matter how thick they are asks who the landlord is.

Anyway we will see If he takes the Sun to court, I sure he has been advised not to since his twitter threat to do so.

[d000hg]

I think the point was that he is renting his house from a company that is based offshore and his 79 grand a year rent is not being taxed. Brand knew that was going to come out so went on the attack.

So yes, he has some cheek and yes he is a hypocrite.

Given the interviewer asked him how much his house cost and didn't even mention that angle when RB answered it was rented, I don't think so. The interviewer was just after cheap "you're rich" digs?

Do we definitely know that he knew that?

He must have known, it would have been on the contract that the landlord was offshore when he signed it, the landlord bank account details would have been clearly offshore. Anyone that rents a place no matter how thick they are asks who the landlord is.

If I saw my landlord was abroad I wouldn't think "tax dodge" I'd just think "lucky git, he lives abroad"

But I wasn't aware of the back story so whether he even knew about it in advance I don't know. He might not even have have read the thing, having a PA to do everything and say "sign here" or even sign on his behalf.

Either way, just about everyone is a hypocrite really. It's a fundamental part of humanity, it seems

[SpontaneousOrder]

Saying only poor people can support the poor is asinine.

That's not the point being made though. Brand says that 'profit is a filthy word', and wants 'massive wealth redistribution'. Except he want's to redistribute other people's wealth and not his own. And he keeps his own profit, even thought it's 'filthy'.

[d000hg]

By profit you mean the money he personally earns for work he does? That's not really profit in the sense he's talking about, is it?

Does he pay his tax like a good boy?

[minestrone]

Given the interviewer asked him how much his house cost and didn't even mention that angle when RB answered it was rented, I don't think so. The interviewer was just after cheap "you're rich" digs?



If I saw my landlord was abroad I wouldn't think "tax dodge" I'd just think "lucky git, he lives abroad"

But I wasn't aware of the back story so whether he even knew about it in advance I don't know. He might not even have have read the thing, having a PA to do everything and say "sign here" or even sign on his behalf.

Either way, just about everyone is a hypocrite really. It's a fundamental part of humanity, it seems

Well he has promised to take the sun to the courts for calling a hypocrite but I am sure his lawyers have reminded him ignorantia juris non excusat. The contact was a legally binding contract. He does not have a leg to stand on.

[GlenW]

Does he pay his tax like a good boy?

I think I'd cry with delight if he was found to be fiddling.
Please God, make it so.

[SpontaneousOrder]

By profit you mean the money he personally earns for work he does? That's not really profit in the sense he's talking about, is it?

No - one's his profit and the other is someone elses!

Does he pay his tax like a good boy?

I don't know, but the people he's complaining about not paying taxes are corporations. And corporations don't pay tax - only people do.

[d000hg]

Oh I'm not saying ignorance is an excuse legally only that morally it's harsh to say he's hypocrite IF he didn't know this was the case.

There is an argument that anyone in that kind of position needs to take extra care to make sure they're pure as snow to avoid these kind of issues but that's more for their own reputation and for the sake of not tarnishing their work with scandal.
For instance people I know in positions of church authority are super-cautious, they maybe won't meet someone of the opposite gender alone - not because they are nervous of anything happening - but because it means there is no way they can even be open to suspicion or malicious attack. Any sensible politician or whatever would be sensible to follow that kind of approach, making sacrifices for the sake of what they're trying to achieve.