BN66 - lobbyng campaign funding

[DonkeyRhubarb]

How much would you be willing to contribute to a lobbying campaign?

[Emigre]

How much would you be willing to contribute to a lobbying campaign?

I assume you mean a thoroughbred professional firm of political lobbyists who can offer direction, insight and access to Parliamentarians and others that are in a position to either make decisions or to influence those that are.

In that case count me in.

[VictorValiant]

How to make them listen

Given the current situation there does not seem to be any downside to such an approach......however I am a tad sceptical in the ability of lobbyists to get the MPs to stop,listen,comprehend and fully appreciate our arguments. We have discussed the history, the timeline, the decisions,the reasoning,the seeming injustices and the misleads on this forum to the nth degree and are familiar with all the nuances. How do you get MPs to get a crash course in all of this without their brains switching off within thirty seconds of the mention of tax planning scheme? That is the conjuring trick - find me a magician with the ability to do this and I am willing to contribute.

[SantaClaus]

Given the current situation there does not seem to be any downside to such an approach......however I am a tad sceptical in the ability of lobbyists to get the MPs to stop,listen,comprehend and fully appreciate our arguments. We have discussed the history, the timeline, the decisions,the reasoning,the seeming injustices and the misleads on this forum to the nth degree and are familiar with all the nuances. How do you get MPs to get a crash course in all of this without their brains switching off within thirty seconds of the mention of tax planning scheme? That is the conjuring trick - find me a magician with the ability to do this and I am willing to contribute.

I think you underestimate some of our MPs. Already some people's MPs have shown a very good grasp of the matter.

The secret lies in the presentation and most people on this forum should be good presenters if they "consult" rather than purely code in the IT industry.

[BarneyCool]

How much would you be willing to contribute to a lobbying campaign?

how much does this sort of thing typically cost? does it have a fixed price or is it a bottomless pit? I'm all for it if it will genuinely help but once again I feel I'm getting involved in something I know nothing about and in a previous life would never have wanted to know about either!
I guess I need to do some research.

[BrilloPad]

I hope that those who voted andyw realize that andyw is slang for £10k - the amount he tried to bribe admin to be unbanned.

admin will give us your names and we will be round to collect.....

[CanPayButWouldRatherNot]

canpaybutwouldrathernot .... well would be happy to pay in this case ...but only if the lobbyist is self employed and using an IOM ebt loan scheme :-)

[Old Greg]

I'm curious as to why people think this will work. MPs may make reassuring noises in letters and constituency surgeries but the tide in Westminster is firmly against 'artificial schemes' / 'aggressive tax avoidance' / call it what you will. I understand the retrospective nature of the legislation and the impact on people's lives, but do people really think that this argument will sway Parliament?

So, those of you who would put money in. Do you think it really might work, or is worth an outside shot, or do you have nothing left to lose?

[BrilloPad]

I'm curious as to why people think this will work. MPs may make reassuring noises in letters and constituency surgeries but the tide in Westminster is firmly against 'artificial schemes' / 'aggressive tax avoidance' / call it what you will. I understand the retrospective nature of the legislation and the impact on people's lives, but do people really think that this argument will sway Parliament?

So, those of you who would put money in. Do you think it really might work, or is worth an outside shot, or do you have nothing left to lose?

Personally I think it would be counterproductive. Though I believe retrospection is wrong, I believe the proles will see us as a bunch of tax-evading whiners.

But I will put money in to show solidarity with the majority.

Also, some peoople are facing bankruptcy so every £1 spent is £1 less that HMRC will get.

[MarillionFan]

I hope that those who voted andyw realize that andyw is slang for £10k - the amount he tried to bribe admin to be unbanned.

admin will give us your names and we will be round to collect.....

I selected AndyW and I have 10k thanks put aside, you know just in case my tax affairs are not in order and HMRC comes knocking...