Sue, not sure why the link doesn't work, but I've put below some of the key messages from it.Your comment wasn't really about Brexit, hence no 'stop brexit' from me. But no, I will never 'come to terms' with it, as nothing will convince me it is anything other than an act of intense national self-harm. Finally, yes, I doubt we will ever agree on that topic, but it's good to have the debate nonetheless ;-)____________________In his interview for the Sunday Times Rich List earlier this year (£), he enthused about post-Brexit Britain becoming the Singapore of Europe: “Singapore is a great example. It has free trade and high technology… You pay for education according to how wealthy you are. You insure yourself for health. But the maximum tax rate is 22%. Amazing.”Dyson has also been making headlines lately by warning the Government not to cut farm subsidies after Brexit. Commentators have been quick to point out that Dyson himself is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the current system of farm subsidies: last year, his company, Beeswax Farming (Rainbow) Ltd, received £1.8million in payments. Over £1million of that was under the Basic Payment Scheme, which is essentially a subsidy for owning land. It comes with minimal strings attached, and the more land you own, the more you get.In 2014 the Daily Mail reported that Dyson “now owns more land in England than the Queen”: some 25,000 acres (as against the mere 20,000 acres owned personally by her Maj at Sandringham). ....Lastly, various commentators suggest that Dyson’s investment in land is a good way to avoid inheritance tax...The Evening Standard’s Home & Property section, reporting on one of Dyson’s purchases, commented: “The savvy move may mean that his three children could avoid a substantial chunk of inheritance tax, as it is not incurred on farmland.” Farmers’ Weekly, in an article on Dyson’s investments, has stated: “Buying farmland is popular with many wealthy investors because it doesn’t incur inheritance tax. Some critics feel this unfairly bumps up land values, pricing ‘genuine’ farmers out of the market”. Viewed from this angle, it all starts to make sense. Dyson’s vast investments in prime farmland, his political support for hard Brexit and turning Britain into low-tax Singapore, all share a common aim: maximise income, minimise outgoings.
Clare Noeken ● 2837d