Life Peer Baroness Sharples has been named in the Panama Papers, a massive leak of confidential offshore bank details.
Lewes-educated Pamela Sharples is one of three UK politicians to be named in the files, part of 11 million documents leaked from one of the world's most secretive companies, Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.
Chichester-born Lord Ashcroft, whose offshore tax affairs have come under scrutiny in the past, has also been named, alongside former Tory MP Michael Mates.
According to the docments, Baroness Sharples became the sole shareholder of Nunswell Investments Limited, a company based in the Bahamas that she used to make investments.
By 2001, her son, David Richard Sharples, had joined her as shareholder and director of the company.
The elder Sharples did not deal with Mossack Fonseca directly; she managed her company through an employee of a British law firm who also was a director, along with an accountant from another firm.
Sharples used her official Parliamentary email address to communicate with them.
In late 2013, they discussed whether it made sense to defer a distribution from her Nunswell account, if she didn't need the funds, to postpone paying taxes on it.
The documents do not indicate whether Sharples followed through with that idea.
In response, the law firm handling Sharples' affairs said that she became a director of Nunswell in 2000 and that the company was registered in the United Kingdom in the same year and now pays taxes to the British government.
The law firm wrote that the House of Lords "has been notified of Baroness Sharples' oversight in registering her interest as a Director of Nunswell Investments Limited" and that she receives "no remuneration...nor any income or capital from that company."
Her son is a director and is a shareholder of the company on behalf of a trust, "not on a personal basis."
There are legitimate uses for offshore companies, foundations and trusts.
Conservative politician Pamela Sharples was elevated to the peerage after the assassination of her husband, Sir Richard Sharples, former Governor of Bermuda.
She was educated at Southover Manor School in Lewes, East Sussex.
She married the then Major Sharples in 1946 and she accompanied him to Bermuda in 1972 when he was appointed Governor.
Sir Richard was shot on 10 March 1973 at the Governor's mansion in Pembroke, Bermuda by Erskine Burrows along with his aide-de-camp and his Great Dane.
The family left Bermuda and did not return for many years, although they did later return and purchase a house.
Lady Sharples was created a life peer in 1973 as Baroness Sharples, of Chawton in the County of Hampshire.
In 2014, she told The Daily Mail that she was forced to sell the family home to pay death duties when it was ruled that her husband was not killed in the line of duty.
Comments
Tories are almost all crooks, we expect nothing less from the rich who parasitically live off the tax paid by the poor.
Tories are almost all crooks, we expect nothing less from the rich who parasitically live off the tax paid by the poor.
And Michael Mates, that supporter of our security services, is named as well.
And in the wider reporting of this, the links between Panama and the British Virgin Islands are featuring more and more. Of course, the clue to the "owners" of the BVI, is in the name - then there is Bermuda (above) - all tax havens run with the agreement of successive UK governments!
It seems, for once, that the conspiracy theorists amongst us, might be right. Cayman Islands/Isle of Man next (also UK colonies)???!!! This could be more entertaining than the In/Out Euro debate..............
....
And Michael Mates, that supporter of our security services, is named as well.
And in the wider reporting of this, the links between Panama and the British Virgin Islands are featuring more and more. Of course, the clue to the "owners" of the BVI, is in the name - then there is Bermuda (above) - all tax havens run with the agreement of successive UK governments!
It seems, for once, that the conspiracy theorists amongst us, might be right. Cayman Islands/Isle of Man next (also UK colonies)???!!! This could be more entertaining than the In/Out Euro debate..............
....
I'm sure your first crush Tony Blair will feature soon too.
I'm sure your first crush Tony Blair will feature soon too.
Hope so!!!
Hope so!!!
Of the five MP's and peers jailed for fiddling expenses four of them were serving Labour politicians.
Of the five MP's and peers jailed for fiddling expenses four of them were serving Labour politicians.
Nasty TORY crooks!
Nasty TORY crooks!
No surprise that all our richest residents would want to avoid paying tax, after all Robin Hood was just a blip in history of their accumulation of wealth. This is what you get when the people running their country don't give a hoot for its population.
Its what's your is mine and what's mine is mine.
No surprise that all our richest residents would want to avoid paying tax, after all Robin Hood was just a blip in history of their accumulation of wealth. This is what you get when the people running their country don't give a hoot for its population.
Its what's your is mine and what's mine is mine.
There is nothing wrong with avoiding tax, even the smallest market stall-holder or self employed builder/decorator will try to avoid paying tax, it is only tax evasion that is a crime.
There is nothing wrong with avoiding tax, even the smallest market stall-holder or self employed builder/decorator will try to avoid paying tax, it is only tax evasion that is a crime.
And they were evading tax. I am surprised you are defending those that do not pay their fare share.
And they were evading tax. I am surprised you are defending those that do not pay their fare share.
Think its all about scale. The odd few quid here and there for people trying to earn and extra few quid here and there who work hard and pay their taxes anyway, fine, but to make millions and hide it all offshore when that could be taxed, well that is utterly outrageous quite frankly. These people will get away with it, Ashcroft has the clout, the friends and money to do so. So whilst we can all point the finger, I doubt very much that these people will ever get what should be coming to them.
Think its all about scale. The odd few quid here and there for people trying to earn and extra few quid here and there who work hard and pay their taxes anyway, fine, but to make millions and hide it all offshore when that could be taxed, well that is utterly outrageous quite frankly. These people will get away with it, Ashcroft has the clout, the friends and money to do so. So whilst we can all point the finger, I doubt very much that these people will ever get what should be coming to them.
And who writes the laws that make the difference between evasion and avoidance? The people now being shown to use these loopholes .
If they made murder legal when committed by MPs, it wouldn't make it morally alright.
Last edited: 1:03pm Tue 5 Apr 16
And who writes the laws that make the difference between evasion and avoidance? The people now being shown to use these loopholes .
If they made murder legal when committed by MPs, it wouldn't make it morally alright.
We always knew that many of the rich and powerful are tax dodgers, Cameron's school fees and many of his compatriots no doubt payed for at the expense of taxes spent on the NHS or education.
It is all going very, very wrong for the Conservatives, just as predicted. Rent apart on Europe, hopelessly incompetent in so many areas of government, unable to get coherent legislation together, making deals with the Chinese and selling the steel industry down the river.
How some of you can still support such an incompetent and blatantly self interested bunch of ideologically driven nutters that run the Conservatives is beyond me.
We always knew that many of the rich and powerful are tax dodgers, Cameron's school fees and many of his compatriots no doubt payed for at the expense of taxes spent on the NHS or education.
It is all going very, very wrong for the Conservatives, just as predicted. Rent apart on Europe, hopelessly incompetent in so many areas of government, unable to get coherent legislation together, making deals with the Chinese and selling the steel industry down the river.
How some of you can still support such an incompetent and blatantly self interested bunch of ideologically driven nutters that run the Conservatives is beyond me.
Like private schools claiming charity status.
Like private schools claiming charity status.
One of your best posts, Mr Jarrs!
One of your best posts, Mr Jarrs!
Ah, the Argus website answer to Polly Toynbee has spat out some bile.
Look at the alternatives Polly
1. An incompetent, blatantly self interested bunch of ideologically driven nutters that run the Labour party.
2. An almost extinct bunch of ideologically driven nutters that run hhe LibDems. It goes without saying they are incompetent and self interested.
3. An incompetent and blatantly self interested ideologically Green nutter.
4. A slew of self interested nationalists run by incompetent and blatantly self interested bunches of ideologically driven nutters.
We're all going to hell in a handcart, helpfully pushed by the incompetent and blatantly self interested bunch of unelected ideologically driven nutters that csll themselves the EU.
Ah, the Argus website answer to Polly Toynbee has spat out some bile.
Look at the alternatives Polly
1. An incompetent, blatantly self interested bunch of ideologically driven nutters that run the Labour party.
2. An almost extinct bunch of ideologically driven nutters that run hhe LibDems. It goes without saying they are incompetent and self interested.
3. An incompetent and blatantly self interested ideologically Green nutter.
4. A slew of self interested nationalists run by incompetent and blatantly self interested bunches of ideologically driven nutters.
We're all going to hell in a handcart, helpfully pushed by the incompetent and blatantly self interested bunch of unelected ideologically driven nutters that csll themselves the EU.
We are only going to Hell in a handcart if we dont throw out the failing torykippers.
Its not going well for old Ido tbelieveit1948 and their rather unpleasant ilk. Kippers and Tory party at civil war, Tory incompetence and venal greed no longer hidden behind the lib dems. Nobody holds a torch to the torykippers. This must be the worst government ever.
Even Ian Duncan Smith accuses his own party of immorality and of putting the rich first. IDS!!! Tory Councillors are joining Labour, Libs, Greens etc at fighting government's plans for full privatisation of the education system, doctors feel so demoralised they are on strike. Millions face cuts to in work benefits and pensions. It's game over and time to give you Tories a push over the edge and a lot of us are enjoying it!
We are only going to Hell in a handcart if we dont throw out the failing torykippers.
Its not going well for old Ido tbelieveit1948 and their rather unpleasant ilk. Kippers and Tory party at civil war, Tory incompetence and venal greed no longer hidden behind the lib dems. Nobody holds a torch to the torykippers. This must be the worst government ever.
Even Ian Duncan Smith accuses his own party of immorality and of putting the rich first. IDS!!! Tory Councillors are joining Labour, Libs, Greens etc at fighting government's plans for full privatisation of the education system, doctors feel so demoralised they are on strike. Millions face cuts to in work benefits and pensions. It's game over and time to give you Tories a push over the edge and a lot of us are enjoying it!
Jail, jail, jail, ----and hard labor until they sweat bullets !!--- and then more --- etc. ----- oh-dear, it'll never happen until Britain becomes a repuplic.
Jail, jail, jail, ----and hard labor until they sweat bullets !!--- and then more --- etc. ----- oh-dear, it'll never happen until Britain becomes a repuplic.
Agreed.
The status quo needs dismantling beginning with the parasitic royals.
Agreed.
The status quo needs dismantling beginning with the parasitic royals.