Tax Evasion
Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, sought to counter the critics by using his speech to the conference yesterday to say it is immoral for the rich not to contribute their fair share. He announced a 900 million-pound ($1.4 billion) plan to reduce tax evasion and avoidance.
Alexander echoed Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborneâs criticism of people who make a âlifestyle choiceâ to live on welfare benefits as he attacked people who think not paying tax is a âlifestyle choice that is socially acceptable.â
âWe will be ruthless with those often wealthy people and businesses who think they can treat paying tax as an optional extra,â Alexander said. âTax avoidance and evasion are unacceptable in the best of times but in todayâs circumstances it is morally indefensible.â
The plan will increase fivefold the number of prosecutions for tax evasion, form a team of investigators to find money hidden offshore and target those who avoid paying the top 50 percent tax rate on incomes above 150,000 pounds a year. A unit of the U.K. tax authority that currently monitors 5,000 high earners will be given resources to look more closely into the tax affairs of 150,000 people.
Is this Labour speaking or the Conservative Party ? ;=)