[News] British monarchy “making millions from taxpayers”

[The Clamp]

A dictatorship in ermine.

In the 21st century it’s a nonsense this institution exists. In any form.

Put them in the bin.

We have Madame Tussaud’s to remember them by. Along with other treasured paedos like Wacko Jacko.

 

[A1X]

Just a reminder that the crown owns the seabed around Britain and makes £200m from allowing wind farms to be built on it. Money which is added to your energy bill.

 

[sparkie]

Not great for the Monarchy to be making money out of the NHS.

They need to mend their ways fast or be shipped out of office.

 

[Pretty Plnk Fairy]

In the same way that Trump supporters are completely unaffected by any of the revelations which have come to light about him, this programme won't make the slightest difference to the flag waving monarchists in this country

Thats noncense we would of not won the war had it not been for the king inspireing the troops every day by waving

Regards

Kieran

 

[Hiheidi]

Not great for the Monarchy to be making money out of the NHS.

They need to mend their ways fast or be shipped out of office.

Does it not also highlight the ineptness of the NHS to be paying up rather than looking for other cheaper options?

 

[sparkie]

Does it not also highlight the ineptness of the NHS to be paying up rather than looking for other cheaper options?

There might be a few issues but the relevant aspect with regard to the Monarchy is that they should not be making cash off the NHS.

 

[Lifelong Supporter]

Thats noncense we would of not won the war had it not been for the king inspireing the troops every day by waving

Regards

Kieran

Did we win the war though? We were on the winning side but I think that winning had rather more to do with the USA, Russia and other commonwealth countries joining with us.

 

[Half Time Pies]

Not sure what the issue is. The Duchies are privately owned 'businesses', admittedly they don't pay corporation tax at 25% but William and Charles do pay income tax on the income they receive .... at 45%. If government departments need to rent buildings what is the difference between paying rent to the Duchies and a private corporation probably with foreign shareholders ?

Additionally, both Duchies provide housing to many and farm tenancies - something you wouldn't get from large shareholder owned corporations.

I can think of a lot of other things to get all angry over.

I watched the documentary last night and there are a number of, I think pretty valid, issues that were raised.

Firstly influence and conflict of interests, the fact that the duchy's can sign commercial agreements with public organisations that they have involvement with in their capacity of head of state and royal family. For example they are head of the armed forces yet the duchy of cornwall has a commercial agreement with the army to rent Dartmoor, and to make matters worse the commercial details of that agreement are not even available for scrutiny.

Surely in the context of the current picking apart of public finances everyone should also be concerned by the disclosure that we are paying £37 million on a full repairing lease of Dartmoor prison which is currently unoccupied! Hardly a trivial matter!

Secondly fairness, the royals are quick to point out that the duchy's are private and commercial companies yet they enjoy various rights, powers and privileges which give them a competitive advantage, one of which being the exemption from paying capital gains or corporation tax. The fact that Charles and William voluntarily pay income tax is neither here nor there. As a business owner my company pays corporation tax and I then also have to pay taxes on my personal income. The duchy's should also pay their fair share of tax.

The last thing the documentary pointed out is the hypocrisy of the royals campaigning for things like environmental issues and then the duchy's undertaking activities that fly in the face of this, like renting out properties that don't meet even the most basic of environmental standards.

I think none of this is helped by the general cloud of secrecy over the Royals which they seem to work very hard to maintain. The documentary showed examples of representatives of the duchy's refusing to disclose information to parliamentary committees, and the Royals take complete advantage of their exclusion from the freedom of information act. This secrecy gives the impression that they have something to hide.

 

[Hiheidi]

There might be a few issues but the relevant aspect with regard to the Monarchy is that they should not be making cash off the NHS.

A few issues! There's a huge amount of people and businesses making big money off the NHS, whilst they claim poverty. If they can get the service they pay the Duchy for cheaper elsewhere, then they should. If not, they are getting it for market rate so it's less of a problem.

 

[Questions]

He’s not my king…. I never voted for him.

 

[Silverhatch]

Not sure what the issue is. The Duchies are privately owned 'businesses', admittedly they don't pay corporation tax at 25% but William and Charles do pay income tax on the income they receive .... at 45%. If government departments need to rent buildings what is the difference between paying rent to the Duchies and a private corporation probably with foreign shareholders ?

Additionally, both Duchies provide housing to many and farm tenancies - something you wouldn't get from large shareholder owned corporations.

I can think of a lot of other things to get all angry over.

All good points. The issue is it's hereditary wealth and privilege, and the Monarchy is the pinnacle of the 'establishment' which - members of - will protect furiously to the detriment of every citizen (or subjects if that's your subservient bag). Then there's the national anthem...

 

[Half Time Pies]

A few issues! There's a huge amount of people and businesses making big money off the NHS, whilst they claim poverty. If they can get the service they pay the Duchy for cheaper elsewhere, then they should. If not, they are getting it for market rate so it's less of a problem.

I used to be a contracts manager for the NHS and one of the principles of public sector procurement is transparency and fairness as well as value for money, I don't see how you can ensure the process encourages free and open competition when an organisation is involved that has the power and influence of our head of state, is shrouded in secrecy and doesn't pay any taxes.

 

[beorhthelm]

I used to be a contracts manager for the NHS and one of the principles of public sector procurement is transparency and fairness as well as value for money, I don't see how you can ensure the process encourages free and open competition when an organisation is involved that has the power and influence of our head of state, is shrouded in secrecy and doesn't pay any taxes.

would you as a contracts manager take on or be encouraged to take on a contract because its from the Duchy, rather than another supplier?

there are questions over transparency for the Duchies, however seems there's a bigger issue of transparency from the buyers if there are suggestions they buy services because its the Duchy.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Did we win the war though? We were on the winning side but I think that winning had rather more to do with the USA, Russia and other commonwealth countries joining with us.

I hadn't realized that USA are Russia are commonwealth countries.

 

[Clive Walker]

didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know apart from putting actual figures to it.

Scumbags and the worst type of Britain.

I genuinely have no idea how people support these bandits and does make me wonder if they live in the real world.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

In the same way that Trump supporters are completely unaffected by any of the revelations which have come to light about him, this programme won't make the slightest difference to the flag waving monarchists in this country

.....and the likes of Trump are the reason why they continue to wave the flag.
The thought of President Blair or Johnson is too ghastly to even contemplate.....President Truss.....!!!!!!

 

[Mo Gosfield]

didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know apart from putting actual figures to it.

Scumbags and the worst type of Britain.

I genuinely have no idea how people support these bandits and does make me wonder if they live in the real world.

See my post above and then engage brain gearage.

 

[Clive Walker]

one thing they did leave out was the fact that if a resident of Cornwall dies and nobody is left to inherit the estate the money doesn't go to the treasury 'as normal' but goes into Williams back pocket. Thats really low!

 

[Clive Walker]

See my post above and then engage brain gearage.

don't think your 'post above' is related to anything I have said!

 

[highflyer]

See my post above and then engage brain gearage.

If you engage brain gearage you realise the argument you are making is simply an argument against democracy.
Which seems silly.