Arron Banks responds to tax dodger accusation

Scottish-Italian comedian, Armando Ianucci, accused UKIP donor Arron Banks of being a tax dodger using companies based in Belize on Question Time. Here's Arron Banks' response:

Dear Mr Ianucci,

I understand you mentioned me on question time in connection with the use of Belizean/ overseas companies to reduce my tax bill including a company in Belize and a service company .

I do not own any companies in Belize so this comment is clearly defamatory.

I believe it is recycling an old guardian story which was incorrect - I have made charitable donations to the Belize children's hospital and hosted a function for them . This was for a cancer charity .

Meanwhile the service company mentioned is in respect of mainly UK staff and expenses incurred and does not save any UK tax . The company does not produce revenue .

I have created over 5000 local jobs in South Gloucestershire and donated over a million pounds to charity including , local churches , facilities for schools , scouts, Cubs , cricket and hockey clubs and local sports clubs in the area.

I paid 2m pounds in tax , over the last two years - probably more than most Italians one imagines.

Particularly funny ones .

I do not own any Belizean companies or seek to avoid UK tax via any device - I expect an apology within 7 days or proceedings will follow .

Best regards

Arron
Ps love the thick of it !

Your move Signor Iannuci.

Tory donor Arron Banks makes £1m donation to UKIP

Conservative donor Arron Banks has switched his allegiance to UKIP today and donated £1m to the party.

Banks was planning to present Nigel Farage with a cheque for £100k until William Hague responded to the news by calling him "a nobody". So he instead decided to make it a £1m donation!

UKIP's National Treasurer, Andrew Reid, has written a personal letter of thanks to William Hague for his fundraising efforts for UKIP and offered him the job of Deputy Treasurer and honorary membership of UKIP when he retires from front bench politics next year.

Dear Mr Hague,

In the first instance I would like to thank you for your efforts in raising funds for the UKIP cause. It is clear to me that your fundraising ability deserves formal recognition and I would like to offer you the role of Deputy Treasurer on or before your forthcoming retirement from front bench politics.

However to do this, requires you to be a member of the Party, but in your case, as you have raised such a substantial sum for the party, I have spoken with Mr Farage and he has authorised me to offer you honorary membership in recognition of your efforts in securing funds for our party.

I look forward to seeing you at many party events.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Reid
UKIP National Treasurer