Random reminder

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 19

Random reminder

HARD TIMES The Vesteys, Britain's richest family, are reported to have paid only $25 tax in 60 years — news item. If we were the Vesteys, we would sack our accountants. What, after all, is the point of having enormously expensive accountants, charging gigantic fees, if you still end up in the gun for $25, which, averaged out over 60 years, amounts to about 42 cents a year? It all seems very slipshod. No doubt the thought of that 42 cents a year has hung over the Vesteys like a sword of Damocles, completely spoiling their fun. 42 cents is a lot of money, even for a Vestey," and especially when it is being paid to the Government. One can just see the Vesteys, going white-faced to their accountants as income tax day draws near, and being told, “The news is bad, I’m afraid.” “What?” shriek the Vesteys, clutching at their throats. “Not 42 cents again?” “We’re afraid so.” murmur the accountants, consolingly. “But look at

|it. this way. It could be worse. Some (people pay a lot more.” i “So what?" cry the Vesteys. “Those people earn a lot less. It’s their duty I to pay more. Otherwise what will , happen to Britain?” That must be tire nicest thing about ’ being the richest family in Britain and : paying virtually no tax. Britain has been going downhill almost 1 continuously oper the last 60 years, 1 none of this decline has been financed 1 by the Vesteys. As thousands rotted • on the dole during the Thirties the ’ Vesteys contributed almost nothing to . their moral debauchmen t. As Britain * desperately borrowed from America ■ during the Forties, in order to pay for 5 the war effort, the Vesteys’ ( contribution to the wasteful expendi- ’ ture on armaments, over the six years ’ of the war, would have amounted to $2.52. As the old song has it: > There’ll always be an England And England will be free, j Though freer to the Vesteys than ;! It is to you or me. ..