Gary Lineker told to step back from presenting Match of the Day

[Chomper Higgot]

13 minutes ago, James105 said:

Actually it would have been his choice of how much tax he paid, even if the BBC insisted on employing him as a freelance contractor via a Ltd company.   If he declared himself as within IR35 (which is probably what he should have done) then he would have paid the equivalent of PAYE and would not be investigated for tax evasion.   He wasn't working for the BBC as a "Company" that could provide the BBC a service, he was working as Gary Lineker during hours defined by the BBC who were effectively his "employer".    

 

If he had an accountant (which of course he did) then this accountant would have been fully aware of IR35 and told him of the risks of pretending he wasn't the equivalent of an employee of the BBC.   So what he has done appears to be clear tax evasion and now he is paying expensive lawyers  to try and wriggle out of it rather than pay what he owes, which is tax that could go some way to supporting the illegal immigrants that arrive on the UK shores that he is so fond of.   

“ So what he has done appears to be clear tax evasion”

 

I think you mean ‘allegedly.

 

Snd what does this allegation have to do with the topic under discussion?

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

5 minutes ago, James105 said:

It's not irrelevant at all.   I've worked as a freelance contractor via the same setup and each contract you take you have to make a choice of whether to declare yourself as an equivalent to an "employee" or if you are genuinely acting as a company.    Nobody forced him to evade tax by declaring himself as outside IR35 - that was his choice and not the BBC.   

It is reported there was insistence by the BBC  to pay their tax through a limited company. There is a link already provided on the previous page. 

 

" Liz Kershaw, say they were forced by the Beeb to become self-employed and to pay their tax through limited companies. She told i the broadcaster did this so it could more easily fire its self-employed presenters."

Edited March 11, 2023 by Bkk Brian

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, James105 said:

It's not irrelevant at all.   I've worked as a freelance contractor via the same setup and each contract you take you have to make a choice of whether to declare yourself as an equivalent to an "employee" or if you are genuinely acting as a company.    Nobody forced him to evade tax by declaring himself as outside IR35 - that was his choice and not the BBC.   

No body has proven he evaded taxes.

 

Perhaps we should have a thread on that.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

I’m very surprised by this, seeing as Lineker is the BBC’s favourite, smug, inanely grinning virtue signaller; when he’s not promoting junk food to kids. The bedwetters at the BBC must be going into meltdown.

 

The corporation is overrun with left wing, gender indeterminate luvvies, who can somehow conjure a photo of a woman with two small children from a queue of five thousand young male economic migrants;  and will, just like the crisp salesman, continually mislabel them as refugees

[JonnyF]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Confused much? You conclude with this:

 

"The BBC loves diversity, except of course diversity of opinion."

 

It's clearly not about the BBC's prejudices. If that were the case, then the "left wing Labour voters at the BBC wouldn't have penalized Linaker in the first place.

The only reason he was finally penalized was that this was about his 50th offence and the public pressure via social media was becoming impossible to ignore.

 

He is paid handsomely by taxpayers to be a football pundit, not to pontificate on leftist political ideology. 

 

As I said before, he could work privately at The Guardian for 10% of his publicly funded salary if he wants to do that.

[James105]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“ So what he has done appears to be clear tax evasion”

 

I think you mean ‘allegedly.

 

Snd what does this allegation have to do with the topic under discussion?

 

 

Actually quite a lot.  If Gary Lineker is using controversial political tweets to prove he is not an equivalent to an employee under direction and control of the BBC and does not have to follow their impartiality rules, then this could be used by his lawyers to wriggle out of the tax evasion claims by HMRC.   The fact that the BBC have suspended him from Match of the Day weakens his tax evasion case as it shows they have direction and control.   So highly relevant I would think?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/07/gary-linekers-political-tweets-could-help-him-avoid-49m-tax-bill

[BobBKK]

Just now, JonnyF said:

The only reason he was finally penalized was that this was about his 50th offence and the public pressure via social media was becoming impossible to ignore.

 

He is paid handsomely by taxpayers to be a football pundit, not to pontificate on leftist political ideology. 

 

As I said before, he could work privately at The Guardian for 10% of his publicly funded salary if he wants to do that.

I agree I am bored silly by pretentious super stars who are mega rich feigning concern for 'the poor' and setting off their bigmouths in defense of wokeism. They are rich and  privileged.    

But Linker would never work in Qatar and be a woke hypocrite right?  oh wait...

 

[sungod]

For those who may agree with his comments, or that they were not that serious and taken out of context- he has become a victim of the wokeness that he and his like have embraced. Thats the world we live in today

 

Oh the irony........????

Edited March 11, 2023 by sungod

[James105]

15 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

It is reported there was instance by the BBC  to pay their tax through a limited company. There is a link already provided on the previous page

That's really not how it works.   The BBC pay the contracted amount to Gary Lineker's Ltd company and it is not their responsibility to ensure Gary Lineker Ltd pays the correct taxes.  It is the responsibility of Gary Lineker (using an accountant of course) to pay the correct taxes.  It was also Gary Lineker's responsibility to declare his IR35 status for this contract (not the BBC).    There is no way that his BBC contract would have passed the tests that would put him outside of IR35.   One of the key tests of IR35 is substitution.   Could Gary Lineker substitute another employee of the Gary Lineker company to present MOTD in his absence?  Of course not, the BBC would have to find a replacement.    His accountant would have told him this.   It was his choice to avoid tax in this way and he should really just pay what he owes instead of trying to wriggle out of it.   

Edited March 11, 2023 by James105

[placeholder]

 

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

The only reason he was finally penalized was that this was about his 50th offence and the public pressure via social media was becoming impossible to ignore.

 

He is paid handsomely by taxpayers to be a football pundit, not to pontificate on leftist political ideology. 

 

As I said before, he could work privately at The Guardian for 10% of his publicly funded salary if he wants to do that.

Jeremy Clarkson had a history of making right wing comments while he was at the BBC. That didn't get him fired. Maybe they're using a reverse double standard in order to conceal their prejudices?

[RuamRudy]

I think it's clear that the government knows it's time is up and they are heading for the exit at the next general election  It's just a matter of pushing through as many of the abhorrent, inhumane policies that they and their right wing fanbase love before they get kicked to the kerb.

Hopefully before long we will be able to have a bonfire of the atrocities and start to undo much of the damage that this party has done.

[RuamRudy]

3 minutes ago, sungod said:

For those who may agree with his comments, or that they were not that serious and taken out of context- he has become a victim of the wokeness that he and he like have embraced. Thats the world we live in today

 

Oh the irony........????

What is wokeness and where is the irony?

[Chomper Higgot]

13 minutes ago, James105 said:

Actually quite a lot.  If Gary Lineker is using controversial political tweets to prove he is not an equivalent to an employee under direction and control of the BBC and does not have to follow their impartiality rules, then this could be used by his lawyers to wriggle out of the tax evasion claims by HMRC.   The fact that the BBC have suspended him from Match of the Day weakens his tax evasion case as it shows they have direction and control.   So highly relevant I would think?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/07/gary-linekers-political-tweets-could-help-him-avoid-49m-tax-bill

If!

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, James105 said:

That's really not how it works.   The BBC pay the contracted amount to Gary Lineker's Ltd company and it is not their responsibility to ensure Gary Lineker Ltd pays the correct taxes.  It is then the responsibility of Gary Lineker (using an accountant of course) to pay the correct taxes.  It was also Gary Lineker's responsibility to declare his IR35 status for this contract (not the BBC).    There is no way that his BBC contract would have passed the tests that would put him outside of IR35.   One of the key tests of IR35 is substitution.   Could Gary Lineker substitute another employee of the Gary Lineker company to present MOTD in his absence?  Of course not, the BBC would have to find a replacement.    His accountant would have told him this.   It was his choice to avoid tax in this way and he should really just pay what he owes instead of trying to wriggle out of it.   

I fail to see your argument, had the BBC not demanded that he was self employed this would be a non issue. There's over 100 of BBC's top earners having problems because of this, not just Gary Liniker

[JonnyF]

35 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

We’re is your evidence that Gary Lineker is a socialist?

I don't believe the UK has introduced socialist identity cards (and the associated social credit bonus points) yet.

 

You might to wait for a Labour election win for that little fantasy to materialize. 

[RuamRudy]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

If!

Such heavy lifting being done by such a small word. 

[brewsterbudgen]

44 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

We’re is your evidence that Gary Lineker is a socialist?

There is none!  He regularly tweeted anti-Jeremy Corbyn posts when Corbyn was Labour leader.  

 

Basically, he's a national treasure and icon and the BBC are going to rue their action.  The sooner the organisation is reformed, starting with Boris' pal the Chairman, the better.

[RuamRudy]

5 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

I don't believe the UK has introduced socialist identity cards (and the associated social credit bonus points) yet.

 

You might to wait for a Labour election win for that little fantasy to materialize. 

A long winded way of saying "I have none."?

[placeholder]

22 minutes ago, Eloquent pilgrim said:

I’m very surprised by this, seeing as Lineker is the BBC’s favourite, smug, inanely grinning virtue signaller; when he’s not promoting junk food to kids. The bedwetters at the BBC must be going into meltdown.

 

The corporation is overrun with left wing, gender indeterminate luvvies, who can somehow conjure a photo of a woman with two small children from a queue of five thousand young male economic migrants;  and will, just like the crisp salesman, continually mislabel them as refugees

Thank you for your highly relevant comments which in no way constitute an inane rant.

[brewsterbudgen]

1 minute ago, placeholder said:

Thank you for your highly relevant comments which in no way constitute an inane rant.

It is strange how Lineker's decency and likeability seem to really bring out the worst in some people.

[placeholder]

1 minute ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It is strange how Lineker's decency and likeability seem to really bring out the worst in some people.

Next you'll be telling me that just because Lineker is rich, that doesn't mean he can't have genuine concerns for the less fortunate.  And not that the only people the rich can feel sorry for is themselves.  That's just crazy talk!

[petermik]

27 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

 

He is paid handsomely by taxpayers to be a football pundit, not to pontificate on leftist political ideology. 

 

 

Exactly....????

[James105]

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I fail to see your argument, had the BBC not demanded that he was self employed this would be a non issue. There's over 100 of BBC's top earners having problems because of this, not just Gary Liniker

Lineker is not a child and has accountants to help him pay the correct amount of tax   He would have had to go against the advice of his accountant based on the IR35 rules in place as his contract would have put him inside IR35 and he should have been paying the equivalent of PAYE.   Just because 100s of others were evading tax as well does not make it okay.   

 

I find it baffling that those who wish the government to use taxpayers money to help illegal immigrants settle in the UK are so unwilling to pay the correct amount of tax to help fund this.    Is tax evasion okay as those avoiding it compare Tory governments to Nazis?   Is that the standard now?    

[JonnyF]

7 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

A long winded way of saying "I have none."?

Someone on here once asked how I knew Ash Sarkar was a communist. 

 

I provided quotes from her saying "I am literally a Communist, you idiot". It still wasn't enough.

 

So forgive me if I don't waste my day finding quotes from Gary saying "I am literally a socialist". It wouldn't be enough anyway. 

 

Check his twitter feed if you think he isn't.

 

Either way, I'm off for a massage. Ciao.

[petermik]

2 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Someone on here once asked how I knew Ash Sarkar was a communist. 

 

I provided quotes from her saying "I am literally a Communist, you idiot". It still wasn't enough.

 

So forgive me if I don't waste my day finding quotes from Gary saying "I am literally a socialist". It wouldn't be enough anyway. 

 

Check his twitter feed if you think he isn't.

 

Either way, I'm off for a massage. Ciao.

Hope the outcome is satisfying........????

[BobBKK]

15 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

It is strange how Lineker's decency and likeability seem to really bring out the worst in some people.

The downtrodden in Qatar love him - what a treasure eh?

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Someone on here once asked how I knew Ash Sarkar was a communist. 

 

I provided quotes from her saying "I am literally a Communist, you idiot". It still wasn't enough.

 

So forgive me if I don't waste my day finding quotes from Gary saying "I am literally a socialist". It wouldn't be enough anyway. 

 

Check his twitter feed if you think he isn't.

 

Either way, I'm off for a massage. Ciao.

Agreed it would be a waste of your time trying to back up your unfounded claims. You would find this however:

 

"I know I get called a leftie, a socialist luvvie, but really I’m fairly central’

[Bkk Brian]

8 minutes ago, James105 said:

Lineker is not a child and has accountants to help him pay the correct amount of tax   He would have had to go against the advice of his accountant based on the IR35 rules in place as his contract would have put him inside IR35 and he should have been paying the equivalent of PAYE.   Just because 100s of others were evading tax as well does not make it okay.   

 

I find it baffling that those who wish the government to use taxpayers money to help illegal immigrants settle in the UK are so unwilling to pay the correct amount of tax to help fund this.    Is tax evasion okay as those avoiding it compare Tory governments to Nazis?   Is that the standard now?    

How do you know the details of the case he has? Do you access to his defense evidence?

[James105]

5 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

How do you know the details of the case he has? Do you access to his defense evidence?

Because I was a freelance contractor operating via a Ltd company and subject to the exact same rules.   He may yet get away with it as he is rich and can afford very expensive tax lawyers (which normal folks do not have access to) which would normally horrify those on the left.   However, since he has compared Tories to the Nazi's as far as the left are concerned he does not have to pay tax like normal people and is held to different standards.    Be honest with yourself, if he was supporting of the Tories you would be very unhappy with his "alleged" tax evasion.   

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, James105 said:

Because I was a freelance contractor operating via a Ltd company and subject to the exact same rules.   He may yet get away with it as he is rich and can afford very expensive tax lawyers (which normal folks do not have access to) which would normally horrify those on the left.   However, since he has compared Tories to the Nazi's as far as the left are concerned he does not have to pay tax like normal people and is held to different standards.    Be honest with yourself, if he was supporting of the Tories you would be very unhappy with his "alleged" tax evasion.   

So you don't know the details of his case. Was Gary working on a contract for services and not that of employer and employee? Do you know? As far as I can make out his tweet was at the policy not the Tories in general right?

Edited March 11, 2023 by Bkk Brian