Blogs

At the time of the Scottish Referendum the then three main United Kingdom political party leaders, Prime Minister David Cameron, then Labour leader Ed Miliband and then Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, signed up to the idea of a 'Vow' to the Scottish people. The 'Vow' was a pledge that there would be substantial devolved powers to the Scottish Parliament if the people of Scotland would vote against full independence in the Referendum  on 18 September 2014.  

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Today’s helping on the CBC, CRA, KPMG tax saga.

https://www.facebook.com/thenational/videos/10153111923087686/

This video clip brings together some footage in the other clips but with additional material including what the presenter describes as ‘confidential discussions’ between KPMG and the Canadian Department of Justice in the hope of ‘settling the matter quietly out of Court’.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The CBC Story about alleged tax evasion via the Isle of Man which we reported on last week is starting to ‘grow legs’.

Although the revelations focused on one family’s finances Canadian Revenue Authorities (CRA) believe such ‘tax planning’ may be more widespread.

In a new twist a tax litigation firm in Montreal Canada’s second largest city is advising anyone using ‘shell companies’ to avoid tax liabilities that they (as they put it) could walk away ‘relatively unscathed’.

The firm say;

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

The Lord of Man seems to having something of an ‘annus horribilis’ in relation to dealings with her loyal subjects in the ‘Crown Dependency’ on Mann!

Last week it was revealed that one of her appointees, suspended Attorney General Stephen Harding is considering suing another of her appointees (her man on the ground here) the Lt Governor, Adam Wood.

Snowdonia National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) is the largest National Park in Wales. Snowdonia is area of outstanding beauty comprising of a varied landscape which includes mountain scenery, glacial valleys, extensive moorlands, and two coastal estuaries. Now a section of ugly pylons carrying overhead lines are to be removed. The pylons, which have long scarred the views in the National Park, will be removed and replaced with underground cables according to plans unveiled by National Grid, the electricity and gas utility company. 

A YouGov opinion poll today for the Times has shown a further 2 percent rise in support for the Scottish National Party (SNP). This latest poll puts them at 51 per cent. Meanwhile support for Labour has fallen another 3 per cent to 22 percent. The SNP remains on course for another landslide in next year’s election for the Scottish Parliament. The Liberal Democrats continue their relentless decline dropping another 3 per cent to just 4 per cent. Meanwhile the Consertives stand at 18 per cent, 

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

Commenting on the election of the new Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of Plaid Cymru, offered her congratulations, but there was a sting in the tail of her message.

Leanne Wood AM (picture) said she hoped Corbyn would

"Deliver the votes of his MPs to join Plaid Cymru MPs in opposing those Tory policies that are causing great harm to people in Wales and beyond”.

But she went on:

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

“How much more money is sitting in offshore accounts that could be contributing to Canada’s infrastructure, schools and hospitals?”

These are the questions that are starting to be posed now by politicians in Canada following revelations about one family there using something called a ‘tax product’ they signed up to in 2000.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

When Phil Gawne made a statement some months ago about freeing up more land for development Mec Vannin not surprisingly reminded him of the historic statement made by himself and others when the were indicted and convicted for their part in FSFO campaign.

The statement carried in the press was called ‘WHY they did it’ and it set out in some detail the reasons they felt compelled to take direct action.

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

I was contacted the week by a journalist, Paul Kelbie, seeking an update on our ‘Celtic Treasures’ campaign. The campaign which identified artefacts like the Lewis Chessmen, The Chronicles, The Gold Cape of Mold etc seeks to promote their return to their home countries.

His call was prompted by the return of six of the Lewis Chessmen to the new museum in the Outer Hebrides (link):