Gordon Prentice - Pendle's Campaigning Labour MP
| Tax Exiles sitting in Parliament |
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Tags: Campaign | Parliament | tax exile
| Written by Gordon Prentice |
| Monday, 06 October 2008 00:00 |
  I am stepping up my campaign to exclude tax exiles from sitting in Parliament.It is outrageous that the Conservative peer Lord Laidlaw is a Member of Parliament, making UK laws but not paying UK taxes. He was elevated to the peerage in 2004 after giving the Conservative Party millions in donations and loans. The following motion, in my name, appeared on the Order Paper of the House of Commons on 16 October 2007: "This House deplores the fact that Lord Laidlaw continues to serve as a Member of Parliament given his status as a tax exile; notes that he gave an undertaking to the House of Lords Appointments Commission in 2004 to become a UK resident for tax purposes and that he has reneged on this promise; and considers that he is not a fit person to serve in Parliament." I want to see the law changed to exclude tax exiles from Parliament. The peer has now applied for leave of absence from the Lords. This means he cannot vote but has full use of the facilities and can even sit on the steps of the throne in the Lords Chamber. He can return to the Lords as a full voting member at any time as long as he gives notice of his intention. 
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 17:33 ) |