The Ingenious Andrew Mitchell

My compliments to Andrew Mitchell for proving to be so ingenious with his tax affairs!

Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold

As per Paul Waugh:

"Tory MP texts me:'Mitchell is like Glenn Close at the end of Fatal Attraction..He's alive and coming after his enemies!'"

#Gategate On Channel 4 News

Michael Crick's investigation into the Andrew Mitchell affair is on C4 News tonight.

He promises:

"Lots of revelations and new material throwing new light.."

We shall see!

UPDATED

Channel 4 have given a sneak preview of what will be shown tonight:

"Dispatches and Channel 4 News reveal CCTV footage of the exchange between Andrew Mitchell and police officers that raises questions about the account in police logs leaked to the media."

Nad's Out

Nadine Dorries has been evicted from I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here, no great loss there.

As she packs her bags it emerged that despite previous claims that she had been given permission to appear on the show by Andrew Mitchell when he was chief whip, it transpires that Dorries was being a tad economical with the truth.

The reality was that she had been given permission to take a month off, but had not told the chief whip that she taking time off to appear on the show.

A politician lying?

Surely not!

Nadine's Missing Whip - Update

Andrew Mitchell's office has, according to The Telegraph, told the Huffington Post that he "was neither asked nor did he agree to Nadine Dorries going off to Australia for a month to take part in I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" 

Nadine's Missing Whip

Despite the fact that the Tory party has removed the whip from Nadine Dorries, her daughter claims that Dorries had been given permission to go to the jungle by the party.

Unfortunately the person who allegedly gave her permission to take a month off was the previous chief whip, Andrew Mitchell of #gategate fame!

#Gategate Closed Long After The Horse Has Bolted

Andrew Mitchell has finally resigned, far too long (in terms of the damage done to his party) after the "horse" had bolted.

The Definition of Untenable

Andrew Mitchell.

On Yer Bike Thrasher!

It appears that Andrew "Thrasher" Mitchell has ignored the sage advice of Norman Tebbit about using a bicycle to look for work. Instead Thrasher has insisted on a getting a taxpayer funded ministerial car.

All very well maybe if he keeps his job, but given that it looks like he is about to lose it he would be well advised to stick to cycling (except through security gates).

#gategate

As per the Telegraph, the police log detailing Andrew "Thrasher" Mitchell's alleged rant:

"Whilst on duty at *** tonight (Wed 19th Sept) on a 1400-2200 hrs between the hours of 1800-2000 I had to deal with a man claiming to be the chief whip and who I later confirmed to be such and a Mr Andrew MITCHELL.

Mr Mitchell was speaking to PC ******** demanding exit through the main vehicle gate into Whitehall. PC ******** explained to Mr MITCHELL that the policy was for pedal cycles to use the side pedestrian exit. Mr MITCHELL refused, stating he was the chief whip and he always used the main gates.

I explained to Mr MITCHELL that the policy was to use the side pedestrian gates and that I was happy to open those for him, but that no officer present would be opening the main gates as this was the policy we were directed to follow.

Mr MITCHELL refused. Repeatedly reiterating he was the chief whip. My exact explanation to Mr MITCHELL was "I am more than happy to open the side pedestrian gate for you Sir, but it is policy that we are not to allow cycles through the main vehicle entrance".

After several refusals Mr MITCHELL got off his bike and walked to the pedestrian gate with me after I again offered to open that for him.

There were several members of public present as is the norm opposite the pedestrian gate and as we neared it, Mr MITCHELL said: "Best you learn your f------ place...you don’t run this f------ government...You’re f------ plebs." The members of public looked visibly shocked and I was somewhat taken aback by the language used and the view expressed by a senior government official. I can not say if this statement was aimed at me individually, or the officers present or the police service as a whole.

I warned Mr MITCHELL that he should not swear, and if he continued to do so I would have no option but to arrest him under the Public Order Act, saying "Please don’t swear at me Sir. If you continue to I will have no option but to arrest you under the public order act".

Mr MITCHELL was then silent and left saying "you haven’t heard the last of this" as he cycled off.

I forward this to you as all officers were extremely polite to Mr MITCHELL, but such behaviour and verbal expressions could lead to the unfortunate situation of officers being left no option but to exercise their powers.

I write this for your information as Mr Mitchell’s last comments would appear to indicate that he is unhappy with my actions.

I have recorded this fully in my pocket book."

Advice To "Thrasher"

Learn YOUR place young man!

Tory Tax Avoidance Hypocrisy

Last week in his Budget statement, George Osborne said:

“I regard tax avoidance and, indeed, aggressive tax avoidance as incredibly repugnant.”

For good measure he added that the Government would come down “like a ton of bricks” on those who seek to avoid stamp duty.

Step forward Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, who invested funds in DV3 Ltd a network of privately owned firms which is now at the centre of a tax avoidance case.

One of the subsidiaries of DV3 Ltd purchased the lease on the Dickins & Jones department store building in central London in October 2006 for £65.1M.

A month later, the subsidiary sold the lease to a partnership, also controlled by DV3, for £65,100. The company maintained stamp duty was calculated on the lesser amount, reducing the rate from 4% to zero.

HMRC challenged the transaction alleging it was a case of “aggressive tax avoidance” but lost at a tax tribunal in February 2011.

It is appealing the decision.

Taxes are, after all, only for "little people" and pasty eaters!