I note I am, according to something called Finance Centres International, the 485th most influential person in the world of offshore.
Well, thanks guys.
Four questions then. Why is Dan Mitchell 244th?
And Paul Krugman 407th?
Why am I the only campaigner I can see on the list?
And what’s the importance of Tory MP Andrew Rosindell at 467— a big friend of the British Virgin Islands, I know — who claims on his web site to “Put Britain First” but seems much more interested in offshore?
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To quote the Prisoner – “who is number 1”?
That’s weird about Krugman, because although he’s an excellent commentator, he’s written hardly anything about offshore AFAIK. But then these list things are always daft – reminds me of those list programmes on Channel 4 which go on for hours and feature a load of talking heads spouting off about the best comedian of all time etc.
Actually, it could be worse. These are the people who have taken over the world. The governments we elect are simply their local accounting clerks.
I’d be interested to know if any of Messrs T A Le Sueur, P Ozouf, G Cook and C Powell appear on the list, and if so, where.
The fact that Rosindell is deeply Eurosceptic and has regular contact with Maggie T through membership of the European Foundation (strapline “yes to European trade, no to European government”) might be relevant.
The directors of the Premier Low Risk Fund plc are also “big friends” of the British Virgin Islands (and other Caribbean hide-aways).
They establish shell companies there to pay undisclosed incentive payments to unqualified and unregistered “introducers” (described by the directors as “professional” investment advisors.)
This way nobody will ever know how much was paid to help acquire pensioner’s life savings – or if any “income” tax was ever submitted from these fees in any other “jurisdiction”.
Rather than “Secrecy Jurisdictions” these places are more akin to “crime centres”.
Please keep wielding your “influence” Mr. Murphy.
I like your style PSG!
When I say things like that where I’m from, I get a firing squad.
ho hum
Not yet been threatened with a firing squad, although one of our members was told that “his body would be washed-up on a beach if he didn’t stop poking his nose into the affairs of the Premier Fund”.
Nice place the Isle of Man.
I’m not sure if the ex-pat PSG is particularly a good fit for Richard’s tax beliefs and his views on people engaged in tax avoidance.
Gregg – September 1st, 2010
“I’m not sure if the ex-pat PSG is particularly a good fit for Richard’s tax beliefs and his views on people engaged in tax avoidance.”
The PSG is a “particularly good fit” for Mr Murphy’s blog.
If you follow Mr. Murphy’s comments and the ensuing threads you will find that “tax avoidance” “secrecy” and flawed “regulation” support the continuing survival of “off-shore” centres such as the Isle of Man.
For a specific example:-
The directors of Isle of Man based Premier Low Risk Fund plc appointed unqualified and unregistered “introducers” to receive “fees” for assisting in the promotion of the Fund to pensioners.
The directors described these incompetents as “professional” financial advisors and supplied them with brochures which contained claims that misrepresented the Fund.
The “introducer’s” fees were paid via two Caribbean registered shell companies, beneficial owners not known. Once the “introducers” had received their “fees” they disappeared in circumstances not indicative of income tax submission in any jurisdiction.
The Isle of Man regulatory bodies, the OFT and FSC, rule that the director’s conduct is compliant with the island’s standards of regulation.
The PSG is a “particularly good fit” for Mr Murphy’s blog.
So members of the PSG have never tried to avoid Spanish inheritance taxes via mortgage schemes? Or used offshore funds to avoid taxation?
Apologies if I am incorrect, but there is a group with a similar name who (or whose members) seem to be involved in attempting large scale property tax avoidance in Spain. This PSG would definitly not fit Mr Murphy’s views on tax avoidance!
In response to Greg.
If any ex-pats have “tried to avoid Spanish inheritance taxes via mortgage schemes” then it would have been on the basis that they believed the “advice” of unqualified and unregistered entities posing as a bona fida “financial advisors”.
These fraudsters were often employed by product providers operating from places such as the Isle of Man and happily (thanks to the efforts of the PSG and others) they are now on the run.
By similar means some ex-pats may have unwittingly (and extremely ill advisedly) been drawn into “investing” in off-shore funds based in places like the Isle of Man, but not for the purpose of tax avoidance.
There is no group with a similar name to the PSG who “seem to be involved in attempting large scale property tax avoidance in Spain”.
If Greg has information that one exists then he should provide the Spanish Tax authority and the police with full details. Failure to do this could mean that Greg is an accessory to criminal activity.
The PSG is composed of respectable, professional people, all of them pensioners and some of them in their eighties. Although Greg has pre-fixed his offensive remarks with an “apology” perhaps he will now withdraw his totally unsubstantiated and scurrilous accusations.
Or perhaps his agenda involves “friends” on the Isle of Man who are attempting to destroy the reputation of the PSG.
Greg has yet to learn how to spell “definitely” but the PSG does “fit” all of Mr Murphy’s views including tax avoidance, secrecy jurisdictions and corrupt off-shore governments with their intentional ineffectual regulation of their financial services industries.
Definitely.
Get a life Greg!
@ PSG, so tax avoidance schemes weren’t sold to PSG members? That’s fair enough then.
My point is that a great many expats who seem to move in the same circles as the PSG (for example, the Costa Action Group) were involved in attempted tax avoidance schemes. These type of schemes (in my opinion) do not fit the views of Mr Murphy and his blog. It seems the moral high ground is now been taken because these schemes didn’t work, and not because of a sudden belief that tax avoidance is wrong.
And I totally refute your point that many ex-pats bought into these schemes without realising they were undertaking tax avoidance.
@ PSG, further to my earlier response, I would like to add that if Premier Funds mis-sold in anyway then I wish you every success.
Yet more absurd comment from Gregg who for reasons best known to him appears determined to discourage the PSG from posting …
For the record; should the Costa Action Group still exist, which it doesn’t, none of the PSG are involved or move in its circles. And to suggest that the PSG has some connection with “attempted tax avoidance schemes” is preposterous and another attempt to insult an honest group of pensioners.
The sole philosophy of the PSG is to uphold the law and if Greg has evidence to support his allegations then he should go to the tax authority and the police instead of blathering on this blog.
PS: Thank you Greg for your (qualified) good wishes. They are appreciated!
How bizarre that there is an email from a Premier Shareholder Group dated 01 August 2010 on the Costa Action Group website. As i’ve said before, I apologise if there are two groups with similar names.
http://www.costa-action.co.uk/
Greg September 9th, 2010 at 11:53
This is becoming somewhat tedious.
The PSG is not involved with, or move in the same circles, as the people who constitute the Costa Action Group.
Amen
Ok, I’m glad you’ve cleared that up. I suggest you speak with the Costa Action group because they have posted an email from a “Premier Shareholder Group” on their website.