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Lords rebuff Ashcroft probe call Lords rebuff Ashcroft probe call
(about 14 hours later)
The House of Lords appointments commission has rebuffed calls for an investigation into Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft over his tax status.The House of Lords appointments commission has rebuffed calls for an investigation into Conservative donor Lord Ashcroft over his tax status.
Lord Mandelson asked for a probe after the deputy Tory chairman admitted he was a "non-dom" - so he did not pay UK tax on anything he earned overseas.Lord Mandelson asked for a probe after the deputy Tory chairman admitted he was a "non-dom" - so he did not pay UK tax on anything he earned overseas.
The commission said it did not have "retrospective powers" to do so, a position criticised by Labour.The commission said it did not have "retrospective powers" to do so, a position criticised by Labour.
David Cameron said Lord Ashcroft had "answered" all questions put to him.David Cameron said Lord Ashcroft had "answered" all questions put to him.
The Conservative leader said the matter was now "resolved" and accused Labour of trying to "flog a dead horse".The Conservative leader said the matter was now "resolved" and accused Labour of trying to "flog a dead horse".
In a sense he's been sitting in the House of Lords under false pretences Lord MandelsonBusiness secretary Q&A: Lord AshcroftIn a sense he's been sitting in the House of Lords under false pretences Lord MandelsonBusiness secretary Q&A: Lord Ashcroft
Meanwhile Conservative MP Greg Hands has put in a Freedom of Information request about Lord Paul - a "non dom" who has donated money to the Labour Party. It follows Lord Ashcroft's admission on Monday that he did not pay UK tax on earnings outside Britain, following years of questions from his political opponents.
Lord Paul said it was "ridiculous" to compare him with Lord Ashcroft as he had always been open about his tax status.
But Mr Hands is seeking more information from the Ministry of Justice about Lord Paul's appointment to the Privy Council last year, something he said was "almost unprecedented for someone who held Lord Paul's relatively junior public office".
Lord Ashcroft said on Monday he did not pay UK tax on earnings outside Britain, an admission that followed years of questions from his political opponents.
Tax purposes
Labour says he had promised to pay full UK tax when he became a peer in 2000 - Lord Ashcroft says he pledged to "take up permanent residence in the UK".Labour says he had promised to pay full UK tax when he became a peer in 2000 - Lord Ashcroft says he pledged to "take up permanent residence in the UK".
The 63-year-old is the Tories' deputy chairman and biggest single donor - giving them more than £4m in recent years - and is at the centre of their general election campaign.The 63-year-old is the Tories' deputy chairman and biggest single donor - giving them more than £4m in recent years - and is at the centre of their general election campaign.
He was initially turned down for a peerage in 1999 by the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee on the grounds that he spent most of his time abroad in Belize and Florida and conducted almost all of his financial matters overseas. Tax purposes
It is unpatriotic - the home secretary claimed - for the Tories to take so much money from a man who chooses not to be a full British taxpayer. If so, all three of the UK's major parties are unpatriotic because they have all taken major sums from so-called non doms Nick RobinsonBBC political editor class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2010/03/why_lord_ashcro.html">Read Nick's blog in full class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/seealso/2010/03/daily_view_lord_ashcrofts_nond.html">Read opinion from across the web He had been turned down for a peerage in 1999 on the grounds that he spent most of his time abroad in Belize and Florida and conducted almost all of his financial matters overseas.
It had been thought he had given assurances he would be resident in Britain for tax purposes when the then Conservative leader William Hague proposed him for a peerage in 2000.It had been thought he had given assurances he would be resident in Britain for tax purposes when the then Conservative leader William Hague proposed him for a peerage in 2000.
It is unpatriotic - the home secretary claimed - for the Tories to take so much money from a man who chooses not to be a full British taxpayer. If so, all three of the UK's major parties are unpatriotic because they have all taken major sums from so-called non doms Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in full Read opinion from across the web
But on Monday Lord Ashcroft said he had only agreed to "take up permanent residence in the UK again" that year and resign as Belize's Special Representative to the UN.But on Monday Lord Ashcroft said he had only agreed to "take up permanent residence in the UK again" that year and resign as Belize's Special Representative to the UN.
He said that after "subsequent dialogue with the government, it was officially confirmed that the interpretation in the first undertaking of the words 'permanent residence' was to be that of 'a long term resident' of the UK".He said that after "subsequent dialogue with the government, it was officially confirmed that the interpretation in the first undertaking of the words 'permanent residence' was to be that of 'a long term resident' of the UK".
'Shine a light'
He said he had "been declaring all my UK income to HM Revenue" for the past 10 years.He said he had "been declaring all my UK income to HM Revenue" for the past 10 years.
Following his disclosures, Lord Mandelson wrote to the House of Lords appointments commission, which vets parties' nominations for peerages, asking it to "shine a light" on the issue. 'Shine a light'
Lord Mandelson wrote to the House of Lords appointments commission, which vets parties' nominations for peerages, asking it to "shine a light" on the issue.
But it replied that "the vetting of Lord Ashcroft took place before the commission was established in 2000 and the commission has no documentation on this case and no retrospective powers to investigate".But it replied that "the vetting of Lord Ashcroft took place before the commission was established in 2000 and the commission has no documentation on this case and no retrospective powers to investigate".
The questions people have been been asking have now been answered David Cameron Send us your comments
Lord Mandelson said it was "unacceptable" for the body to refuse to take the matter further.Lord Mandelson said it was "unacceptable" for the body to refuse to take the matter further.
"It's not acceptable for the authorities simply to say 'well, we're an independent commission now, we don't have the papers'," he said. The questions people have been been asking have now been answered David Cameron class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/03/does_it_matter_if_politicians.html">Send us your comments
Mr Cameron said Lord Ashcroft's statement had settled questions about his tax position and undertakings he gave when he became a peer. And Liberal Democrat frontbencher Chris Huhne has written to the chief executive of HM Revenue and Customs, Lesley Strathie, arguing that Lord Ashcroft's "non-dom" status is "incompatible" with him having taken up permanent residence and accepting a peerage for life.
"The questions people have been been asking have now been answered," he told a business audience in London. "People wanted to know what his tax status is. They now know what his tax status is." Mr Huhne said his back taxes should be investigated and his non-dom status declared "void".
Meanwhile Conservative MP Greg Hands has put in a Freedom of Information request about Lord Paul - a "non-dom" who has donated money to the Labour Party - relating to his appointment to the Privy Council last year.
Conservative leader Mr Cameron said Lord Ashcroft's statement had settled questions about his tax position and undertakings he gave when he became a peer.
He accused Labour of trying to exploit the issue ahead of the election and said his opponents were "flogging a dead horse" over the issue.He accused Labour of trying to exploit the issue ahead of the election and said his opponents were "flogging a dead horse" over the issue.
He added: "People have all the information they need, disappointing as it is to some who rather hoped this question could be asked all the way up to polling day."He added: "People have all the information they need, disappointing as it is to some who rather hoped this question could be asked all the way up to polling day."
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said: "I think if you are seeking to influence the outcome of the next general election... then it is wholly wrong that you basically seek to pay taxes only partially in this country." Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said it was "wholly wrong" for someone "seeking to influence the outcome of the next general election" to pay taxes "only partially in this country".
But his party has confirmed Tory claims that it has taken donations from three "non-doms" - Bhanu, Sudhir and Dhruv Choudhrie.But his party has confirmed Tory claims that it has taken donations from three "non-doms" - Bhanu, Sudhir and Dhruv Choudhrie.
An amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, currently going through Parliament and which has all-party backing, will require all MPs and peers to be resident, ordinarily resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes. It is expected to clear its final Commons stages on Tuesday. An amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, currently going through Parliament and which has all-party backing, will require all MPs and peers to be resident, ordinarily resident and domiciled in the UK for tax purposes.