Though it’s not getting much coverage, apparently this morning Labour “launched an assault on tax havens in the Channel Islands, accusing them of letting people dodge taxes by hiding behind front companies and trusts.” With Operation – Keep – Ed – Off – the – Airwaves – for – the – Sake – of – the – Poll – Ratings in full swing, it was left to Chuka Umunna to do the lap of Millbank.

You might ask how someone who cannot even convince his own mother on the issue is in any position to lecture others on it. Chuka denies that offshore trusts were used to protect his inheritance, yet the Mail reported last year that the family used a complex structure of companies based in Jersey, and traced back to one RBC Trust,  to purchase a million pound home:

“RBC, also based on the Channel Island, boasts it is one of the ‘top ten’ largest wealth managers in the world, offering services to ‘high net worth clients’ including ‘planning for and mitigating income, capital gains or inheritance taxes’”

And it’s particularly grating to be lectured on the evils of capitalism by someone who has clearly done so well out of it. Chuka’s spokesman confirmed to Guido earlier that his sharp look comes at a price. He tried to justify his bespoke Alexandra Wood suits, by saying “lots of Conservative MPs” are also draped by the “up and coming” tailor. Having spoken to the shop today, Guido can confirm that you don’t get much change from a grand for their cheapest number and a two piece wool would set you back around £1,200. Wood boasts:

“We are proud to have now made half of Mr Umunna’s wardrobe, about which he is immensely happy. We started designing his suits when he was working for Herbert Smith and now it is a privelege to be making suits for the man so frequently commented upon.”

So it’s not just one suit…

The average council tax bill in Chuka’s constituency is £1,235.11, something that many of his constituents will struggle to meet, yet he can blow the same, multiple times over, on just “half” of his wardrobe…

While we are discussing the frankly long overdue proposal to sack rubbish teachers, why don’t we start with blog-favourite Hank Roberts. He’s a geography teacher at Copland School in Brent  Well sort of, that was before he became a “Pilgrim”. A union official, paid for by the taxpayer to do full-time union duties, rather than the front-line role he should be doing. There are hundreds of these teaching pilgrims.

At one point Hank was costing the school £53,000 per annum to have him on full-time release for his union activities, though since Guido exposed him last May, he has apparently gone back to work for at least two days a week. The school is still having to pay another teacher to cover for Hank when he is agitating - he’s “politically active” to say the least. He should be top of the sacking list.

Guido had better things to do than attend Chuka Umunna’s speech yesterday at an event organised by the re-energised IPPR, but that’s not to say he didn’t have eyes and ears in the room. There was a panel discussion afterwards featuring, among others, Lord Myners and Deborah Hargreaves, the Chairman of the self-appointed High Pay Commission. The event was trailed with a suitably hand-wringing leader in the Guardian which, once again, left them open to accusations of rank hypocrisy. Editor Alan Rusbridger’s package was up 7% to £605,000 last year and when a hack in the audience asked the High Pay Commission panel if this reward for failure was acceptable, with his characteristic charm, Myners instead chose to play the man rather than the ball, describing the hack that had asked the question as ”embittered”. Deborah Hargreaves was more forthright:

“The answer is no and maybe that is why they need an employee representative on the remuneration committee.” 

Which was rather honest considering Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger was until recently her boss, when she was his business editor and she still contributes occasional articles. Sadly nobody mentioned City tycoon and hedge fund boss Paul Myners’ multi-million pound modern art collection…

There are a lot of number floating around today regarding HS2. Tory spinners proudly say that the project will create 40,000 jobs. Given the woefully underestimated price tag is currently at £32 billion, it seems that the Tories have no problem with the taxpayer paying a cool £800,000 for each job. Given that the final cost is likely to be closer to £60 billion, the “expected” generation of £45 billion in “cash benefits for businesses around the country” looks equally shaky.

Add to that the extra half a billion for the new tunnel to avoid upsetting the NIMBYs, as well as helpfully staving off a rebellion in Parliament, and you have political spending of Brownite proportions. 

After his OpEd in the Telegraph this morning, Tory MP Jesse Norman will put down at 10 Minute Rule Bill against Pilgrims immediately after PMQs on Wednesday:

Ten minute Rule Motion: Jesse Norman: Trade Union Officials (Refund of Pay to Employers): That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide that pay for hours worked on behalf of trade unions by trade union officials during hours when they are paid by an employer should be refunded to the employer by the trade union; and for connected purposes.

Success with a 10 Minute Rule Bill is rare, but it should be a good reminder for the government about this issue in the run up to their promised consultation. Cameron has pledged to scrap taxpayer-funded trade union activity so it would be embarrassing for him if it were to fall. The union funded Labour MPs are having their thumbs screwed by the brothers to organise against the vote:

From: LLOYD, Tony
Sent: 05 January 2012 14:25
Subject: Ten Minute Rule Bill next Wednesday after PMQs

Dear Colleague,

You may be aware that the Conservative backbencher Jesse Norman MP is introducing a Ten Minute Rule Motion on Wednesday 11th January. It will be opposed by Labour MPs in the Chamber and it would be useful if you could be around to vote against. Its timing is subject to statements and PMQs but it will be the first piece of business after 12.30.

Regards,

Tony
Tony Lloyd MP
Manchester Central

What Tony doesn’t mention in his email is that he is the chairman of the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs.

The group greases the wheels for unions to manipulate legislation. They seem to be getting their money’s worth today…

As our MPs lie in for another week, the rest of the country has gone back to work this morning with a 5% rise in train fares. While nobody likes that, it’s hardly fair to expect the inner-city workers who earn less to subsidise the countryside commuters. Though that hasn’t stopped the usual suspects from making a lot of noise this morning. Protests have been planned, and leafleters have hit the stations. However is this just about lowering fares?

Take a look at who is organising today’s “#FareFail” protest, which hopes to jam the Treasury switchboards. Those centrists over at Climate Rush have got involved, but pulling the strings seems to be the ludicrously named “Bring Back British Rail” campaign. They have been mentioned by various media outlets in the run up today, but it’s a one-man show headed up by Ellie Harrison, a socialist activist and artist. Her plan to lower fares is to renationalise public transport…

While the fare rises will no doubt hit some people very hard, Ellie has nothing to worry about. She is currently funded by an “Artistic Development” bursary from Creative Scotland. That should cover her travel to and from the protests…

What does the former Chief Reporter of a defunct newspaper do for cash? Well if the online ad service Gumtree is anything to go by, becoming a chauffeur is the way forward…

Neville Thurlbeck, currently on bail after being arrested by Operation Weeting, is offering a “stylish, immaculate chauffeur driven Mercedes S500 available for weddings in Surrey/South West London. £125-£150.” He’s also trying to sell the “lovingly maintained” car and rent out his luxury Harrow-on-the-Hill apartment.

He’s going under the name “Ned” these days…

Guido can’t think why the Tories decided to pull IDS from the Daily Politics today. He’s said to be fuming, particularly at Ken Clarke, and made said fury perfectly clear over the phone to him this morning. Owen Paterson has been stirring things up too. Either way it was the Pilgrims™ section of the show that Guido particularly enjoyed:

Leaving aside her terrible attempt at justifying the practice of full-time taxpayer-funded trade union officials, Reeves had the cheek to try and claim that she was not funded by Unite the Union. She acknowledged that they gave her Leeds West Constituency money (£1,500 in May 2009 and another £1,500 in the April before the election), but she categorically denied she had received money directly from Unite:

“I don’t get any money from a trade union…”

In November 2007, two months after being selected as Labour’s candidate for Leeds West, Rachel Reeves declared a donation from Unite of £1,979.50 to the Electoral Commission. Donation Ref. No. C0002459 was paid directly to one Ms Rachel Reeves.

A trillion in cuts in the first year. Sod the salami slicing, it’s time to take out whole departments. We could learn a lot…

Oh this just keeps getting better and better. Labour sources get in touch to point out that Kevin Lee has recently, and very quietly, been appointed Andy Burnham’s Political Adviser. That’s right, a man with business interests in health is crafting lines for Labour like “NHS not for sale”. Almost vintage Labour irony… 

As one insider dryly observed: “Burnham gives well paid job without interview to mate who he owes £20,000″. Does that smell odd to anyone else? So Andy…

• Where was the job advertised?
• How many people were interviewed for it?
• Why was the job given to Mr Lee?
• What assurances were sought regarding Mr Lee’s private interests in the NHS?
• Why has Mr Lee not declared that he owes you £21,000 in the Register of Members’ Staff Interests?
• When are you going to pay your adviser back the £21,000 you owe him?

Answers on a inappropriate business card…