Rich, privileged and part of an international global elite, Rishi Sunak and his billionaire wife Akshata Murthy will probably never quite understand why there is such outrage over her tax status in the UK.
Sunak complains that his partner’s business affairs are being used to undermine him.
But while he has hiked up the taxes of millions of ordinary workers and businesses in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, he shares the roof of his Downing Street flat with a wife who exempts herself from paying UK taxes.
Murthy’s argument is that she is Indian and her native country does not allow dual citizenship – but that argument would not hold water.
She has to apply for non-dom status, which allows her to avoid tax on the mega profits she makes from shares in her father Narayana’s international computer software business.
It might be legally correct to say that she has done nothing wrong but Murthy has a choice – either to pay taxes in the country in which her husband sets tax or to avoid them.
She chose the second path of smart accountancy and political hypocrisy.
Sunak is learning very quickly that political reputations can easily be lost.
His wife’s tax status reinforces the mantra that with the Tories it’s always one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us.
More help needed
The tragic events unfolding in Ukraine can feel a long way away from Scotland. But that doesn’t mean we can afford to ignore them.
Living in a peaceful society is a right everyone should be able to enjoy.
So, well done to every Scot who has donated to the many charities providing help to Ukrainians.
The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) announced yesterday it has raised more than £1million.
SCIAF added that £500,000 has also been put into the appeal by the Scottish Government.
It’s testament to the generosity of Scots that one charity can raise so much on its own.
The cash is now being converted into medical supplies, nappies, bedding, sanitary products and other vital supplies on the front line in Ukraine.
Sadly, the war of Russian president Vladimir Putin doesn’t look like it will be over any time soon.
People are fleeing violence on a daily basis and they will need our help for a while to come.
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