Has The UK Declared War On Liechtenstein, Andorra and Monaco?
HAS The UK declared war on Liechtenstein, Andorra and Monaco?
And if it has, has Prince Harry got his skis ready packed?
In “Alistair Darling chases rich in tax-free haven of Monaco – Chancellor tightens screw on wealthy Britons and their Riviera refuge”, the Times talks of “hostilities against Britain’s super-rich” and “sanctions against Monaco, the Mediterranean tax haven”.
“So far the attention has been on Liechtenstein, but Monaco is the goldmine,” says a Whitehall official. “Germany has got the bit between its teeth now and Monaco is where they want to go next – and we’re right with them.”
We learn that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) expects to obtain £100m in unpaid tax from 100 Britons who bank in Liechtenstein. “It paid £100,000 to Heinrich Kieber, a former bank employee, for clients’ names and bank account details. In the past few days it has begun sending them letters referring to their account numbers”.
This is the Heinrich Kieber who “has made millions of euros by selling stolen bank records to the world’s tax authorities. He is now Liechtenstein’s ‘most wanted’ man.” He is undoubtedly Liechtenstein’s most famous man.
On one had, news that the HM Revenue and Customs is buying stolen data must cause the banks to worry. And given the security around HMRC’s data reserves, foreign powers, domestic banks and the curious can expect to be offered the same information on a couple of discs any day now.
But it is the talk of sanctions that shocks? It all sounds so heavy-handed, putting Monaco on a par with Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.
The wonder is what Liechtenstein will do about it? Will it link up with Monaco and Andorra and form a mini-me Axis of Evil? The Snowy Peril could consult with the Duchy of Grand Fenwick on a military strategy.
The invasion is coming…
Posted: 2nd, March 2008 | In: Money, Politicians Comments (5) | TrackBack | Permalink
