"Morally repugnant." That is the agreed wording from the prime minister and the chancellor on aggresive tax avoiders.
Danny Alexander added this morning that the government would come down on tax avoiders "like a ton of bricks" (although perfectly legal).
Meanwhile, The Times revealed that members of Take That invested at least £26m in a scheme that Revenue and Customs believe is a tax avoidance measure.
Among the popstar penny-savers is none other than 'our Gary'.
I say, 'our Gary' but he's also kinda the Conservatives' Gary.
He joined David Cameron on the campaign trail in 2010, delivered the recent Jubilee concert and was rewarded with an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
So, given the serious allegations on his tax affairs, and the government's tough-talking on tax avoiders, should Barlow be made an example of?
The PM's spokesman refused to "comment on specific cases" this morning.
"Generally we echo the words of the chancellor that tax evasion is morally repugnant."
It was pointed out that Take That stand accused of avoiding tax, not evading it.
"All of these things HMRC are looking at…" was the response.
"We are giving HMRC the tools they need to crack down on this…
"It's very important that people pay the right level of tax."
What about moral force and barring tax avoiders from receiving honours, the PM's spokesman was asked.
"Generally speaking, policies are kept under review but I don't think there is a particular issue here…" came the answer.
"Separately the Jubilee celebrations were a great success and Gary Barlow played a big part in that."
It was pointed out that Fred Goodwin's knighthood had been revoked after the banking collapse.
The move was taken by a Whitehall body responsible for the integrity of the honours system.
But the PM's spokesman maintained: "I am not commenting on individuals."
(It should be added that stripping someone of an OBE is far from easy. It's difficult, actually.)
But pressure on Gary Barlow, his OBE and Take That will continue to mount.
The group's lyrics about "holding back the flood" may become rather apt.
Comments
Dee / June 20 2012 6:51pm
Maybe this is a case of pot , kettle and black. Morally repugnant is what's been quoted, do they think we have forgotten how many Mp,s have fiddled the system over the years, is that not also morally repugnant
steve / June 21 2012 8:36am
this is another horrendous story! a couple of years ago it was Bono and U2 moving their company to Holland to avoid tax, now its Gary barlow and a wave of other so called personalities doing exactly the same. I think that this is yet another case of double standards! exactly how much m,oney does one person need!!!
Alison harris / June 21 2012 8:00pm
So me, a nurse and university lecturer, is paying for the likes of Gary Barlow, to have good roads to drive his fleet of cars , the training of and use of doctors and health care workers to deliver his babies and look after his family, police escorts to provide him with security at given times. Thanks Gary. You are our hero- right up there with the corrupt politicians and benefit fraudsters.
Annette Smith / June 24 2012 3:10pm
Its fraud, in the same class as the Mps claiming back expenses in 2009 and much worse than a benefit cheat. A benefit cheat is only trying to get a little more for his family but these people have cheated up to 26 million, from the public purse. Imagine what a school / after school club could do with that kind of money. No wonder our country is broke and on its knees. Get these people to pay it back and treat them the same as Joe blogs that means we should see them in the courts and paying it back with interest or maybe be even jail especially in these times. We are not supposed to benefit from crime that goes for us all, not just the common people
Pete / June 29 2012 1:12pm
Barlow should have it taken away. He is a cheap skate and didnt deserve it anyway. Why should you get awarded one for being successful. Surely people who help others all their lives are far more worthy.