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21 June 2013

Watch: Nigel Farage denounces tax avoidance in speech last month

The UKIP leader, who set up an offshore tax fund on the Isle of Man, told the European parliament that tax avoidance was about "the perception of fairness".

By George Eaton

In my earlier post on Nigel Farage’s offshore tax fund (located on the Isle of Man), I noted that the UKIP leader was guilty of hypocrisy having recently denounced tax avoidance in a speech to the European parliament. Well, here is that speech in full and it’s as damaging as you’d expect.

He told MEPs (who he assailed for “tax fraud”): “There’s a great degree of unity here this morning, a common enemy: rich people, successful companies evading tax, which of course is a problem, avoiding tax, which is not illegal, but it gives this whole chamber this morning a high moral tone and, as Mr Barrasso says, it’s all about the perception of fairness.” Indeed it is, Mr Farage. 

He went on to accuse the EU Commission of attempting to “drive a wedge between the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Caymans”. Maybe, but shouldn’t he have declared his interest? 

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