[News] British monarchy “making millions from taxpayers”

[Pavilionaire]

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.

At the very least, the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall should pay Corporation Tax to HMRC on the profits they make. These are private businesses owned by Charles and William, from which they derive private wealth. While Charles and William are not bound by law to pay income tax it is morally wrong that they can pick and choose how they wish to be taxed.

Furthermore, is it still right that Charles and William should own vast stretches of land and coastline, so derive vast amounts of passive income in the form of rents?

Clearly, much of the profits are ploughed back into community and charitable causes but - again - does that make it right that they - rather than the people of the UK - are receiving the money in the first place?

 

[Super Steve Earle]

Is this the Despatches programme where the Royals own the land but water companies own the properties and derive the income?- yawn...

 

[Clive Walker]

Is this the Despatches programme where the Royals own the land but water companies own the properties and derive the income?- yawn...

It’s the dispatches programme where plebs fund the nhs through tax and donations while the RF rinses them in rent.

Utterly undefendable.

 

[highflyer]

I assume that if we were to abolish the monarchy, these estates could be returned to government ownership? Thus saving the taxpayer many (many) millions? Strange if so as all the 'economic analysis' I keep getting told about insists that the RF makes us money? I guess you have to set the income from the estates, and savings on rental, against all those American tourists that would not burn tons of carbon to come and visit the royals in person...

 

[lawros left foot]

The Royal Family challenging the Tory Party for top spot in the’ Most successful organised crime syndicate in the history of Great Britain’ League.

 

[Half Time Pies]

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.

I left the NHS in 2011, so its a long time since I worked there and I was on relatively low value contracts of less than a million, but my perception of NHS property services and estates based on the trusts I worked for was that it was a complete disaster! The procedures followed under EU rules for public procurement were very complex and onerous but the estates and property department was extremely under-resourced and under a lot of time pressure so they were regularly cutting corners. I remember a senior property manager telling me about a PFI scheme he was managing where he would turn up to the meetings with himself as the sole representative of the trust and the PFI project company would have a team of various specialists and lawyers ensuring that they could squeeze as much money out of the trust as possible! The same manager also told me that on one project at year end they couldn't account for £1 million, they had absolutely no idea where it went! It wouldn't have surprised me if there was an element of cronyism and corruption, with deals done behind the scenes, and I was glad to get out of there.

 

[Half Time Pies]

.....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.....!!!!!!

Many countries have an elected head of state that is not involved in making political decisions or running the government, so there would be no need for Britain to adopt a US style presidential system and for us to end up with President Truss!

 

[Super Steve Earle]

It’s the dispatches programme where plebs fund the nhs through tax and donations while the RF rinses them in rent.

Utterly undefendable.

Oh, you mean a one sided slag off the Monarchy programme. Enjoy.

 

[Clive Walker]

Oh, you mean a one sided slag off the Monarchy programme. Enjoy.

Easily done when there is very little positive to say about them

 

[DJ NOBO]

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 can help you with this. They are exploiting laws established in medieval times to make tens of millions of pounds a year from tax payer-funded institutions like the NHS.
It’s fair enough if this doesn’t square with some people’s moral compass, don‘t you think?

 

[Hiheidi]

I can help you with this. They are exploiting laws established in medieval times to make tens of millions of pounds a year from tax payer-funded institutions like the NHS.

So, one of the headline stats is that an NHS trust is being charged £11 m to store their ambulances on his land for 15 years. I totally agree it's not a good look for the Monarch but if the NHS could find anywhere cheaper surely they would have done so (unless they are completely incompetent), in which case it must represent market value.

 

[DJ NOBO]

So, one of the headline stats is that an NHS trust is being charged £11 m to store their ambulances on his land for 15 years. I totally agree it's not a good look for the Monarch but if the NHS could find anywhere cheaper surely they would have done so (unless they are completely incompetent), in which case it must represent market value.

From a business perspective it makes a lot of sense. Legally, it is sound. Good luck to them, you could argue.
But some of the institutions that have deals with the royals are tax-payer funded, some also receive donations from the likes of you and I.
It is all kinds of wrong that a share of that money helps fund the royal family, due to laws created when society was so different.( And I’m not particularly anti royal).

 

[AmexRuislip]

Let's face it, these bunch of royal clowns are literally laughing all the way to the bank.
All this wealth is absurd, down right greedy and embarrassing.
The NHS aside which is progressively always on its knees, there's poverty in our country.
The monies that are generated through the Duchy's 'checking account' really need to be diverted to aide the latter.
All of IMO

 

[abc]

I can help you with this. They are exploiting laws established in medieval times to make tens of millions of pounds a year from tax payer-funded institutions like the NHS.
It’s fair enough if this doesn’t square with some people’s moral compass, don‘t you think?

I had no idea that the nhs existed in medieval times. Or were they just really forward thinking?

 

[The Clamp]

And Prince William adopts “end homelessness” as his pet project.

He could end it by the time the Shipping forecast goes out tonight.

Wanker.

 

[abc]

Suggest adding the c of e to this thread. Assets of c£10 billion, one of the largest landowners in the Uk who ruthlessly evict their tenant farmers in order to sell land for development, and yet pay ZERO tax.

Monarchy postively benign in contrast

 

[Hiheidi]

Suggest adding the c of e to this thread. Assets of c£10 billion, one of the largest landowners in the Uk who ruthlessly evict their tenant farmers in order to sell land for development, and yet pay ZERO tax.

Monarchy postively benign in contrast

Went to a CofE church for a bit when my kids were young. Gone are the days when you'd throw a few coins in the collection after the service - they asked for a direct debit and said what you gave had to be felt by you to be a proper donation. The vicar would chase you down if you didn't have a monthly payment set up. Now my kids are happy atheists!

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Many countries have an elected head of state that is not involved in making political decisions or running the government, so there would be no need for Britain to adopt a US style presidential system and for us to end up with President Truss!

Exactly, and I prefer to be a citizen and not a subject

 

[zefarelly]

Ahh the establishment.

Doesn't matter what hat they wear, they're all dry humping us. religion must be the worst, scaring people out of their hard earnt while they do it all tax free. An incredible business model.

If any one 'working' group does get ahead they get a pat on a head and then beaten down before too long.

I've seen new money sucking up to auld money at events . . . They think they're in., but they're not . . . And their wealth is usually temporary . . . .

inherited peerages can't stop soon enough.

and relax . . .blimey, it's only Monday

 

[stewart12]

.....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.....!!!!!!

In the grand scheme of things what is the actual difference between President Truss and Prime Minister Truss