Warwick asks for Government funds

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

As von Bismarck once said, "Politics is the art of the possible". Principles don't matter.

That's why it won't happen and it was stupid to suggest it in the first place.

Politics is certainly the art of the possible and Warwick's impossible views could be the opening shot in a negotiation strategy that could result in the BRDC being accommodated partially and in a way that is compatible with the amount invested in athletes that compete in other sports. It could be a private-public partnership fund-matching arrangement. They could rope the driver into some roadsafety campaign for the schools. Maybe they could help facilitate a Justin Wilson kind of deal. I dunno; maybe a blend of all three options. It might just go to supporting drivers facilities. My point is there's a wide range of 'smart' options and funding strategies that could be considered. Warwick would be stupid for not asking the question.

[EastonNeston]

UK sport has very limited fund, however they are so limited that they have significantly refused, and even totally cut, funding to some sports.
As an example, basketball, the worlds second most popular participation sport, has had its funding totally cut, even though the UK national team has improved its world ranking exponentially over the last few years.
As much as I love Motorsport, I feel that funding from UK sport would be better spent in other sports.
However, there could be valid arguments for funding to improve the coaching and support structures of the sport.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Warwick is though.

So I guess we agree!

If you re-read what I wrote earlier I said this previously.

I only took exception to your post having a go at Warwick. Which it didn't. When I disagree with someone I don't need to have a go at their character. Not that you did.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I would say the prohibitive costs and the highly speculative nature of talentspotting would result in a refusal for public funds in relation to drivers. That all comes in with the detail but in principle there's no reason pro-drivers shouldn't be treated like any other pro-athletes.

I agree.

It won't happen of course.

But as a former member of Racing for Britain, yes, I agree.....

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

But as a former member of Racing for Britain, yes, I agree.....

Still have my RFB membership card here!!

In these days of easy crowd funding that's the sort of scheme that should be investigated.

[Adam43]

Ask for this, don't get any cash from the government, but you get some breaks with planning and other incentives. We'll see, and then talk politics.

Maybe Del Boy has learnt some tricks from Bernie. Listen to the story about the Brabham contract in the Motorsport podcast.

[Born Racer]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

I've got an idea, and I bet this would get government approval...

Before petitioning Parliament for a handout of taxpayer funds from the public purse for his new driver scheme why doesn't Warwick first pass the hat around his own members who have benefited so much from tax-except status by living abroad over the years?

Let's think. There's currently Hamilton, Button, DiResta, Coulthard, along with JYS and Mansell who might chip in along with former President Damon who escaped to Ireland for a few years and of course Warwick himself who seemed to enjoy the air in the Channel Islands once the paycheques started rolling in....

Seriously, I've never heard such a crass idea from the BRDC in my life. Warwick is delusional and is harming the very image of the sport by opening his mouth in this way.

I don't blame F1 drivers for living in tax exile havens. Wouldn't you if you were happy to leave the UK officially? It's not as though they necessarily spend much time here using our services.

Can we reconcile the idea of their tax status and funding for young drivers? Aren't they separate ends of the scale? My problem with arts and sports funding is where do you draw the line? F1 draws its own line by being too expensive.

[BSchneiderFan]

When it comes to drivers living outside the UK for tax purposes, I'm with the great jurist Lord Clyde:

"No man in the country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, so to arrange his legal relations to his business or property as to enable the Inland Revenue to put the largest possible shovel in his stores. The Inland Revenue is not slow, and quite rightly, to take every advantage which is open to it under the Taxing Statutes for the purposes of depleting the taxpayer's pocket. And the taxpayer is in like manner entitled to be astute to prevent, so far as he honestly can, the depletion of his means by the Inland Revenue."

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I don't blame F1 drivers for living in tax exile havens. Wouldn't you if you were happy to leave the UK officially? It's not as though they necessarily spend much time here using our services.

Can we reconcile the idea of their tax status and funding for young drivers? Aren't they separate ends of the scale? My problem with arts and sports funding is where do you draw the line? F1 draws its own line by being too expensive.

I didn't say I blamed them for being tax exiles (and no I wouldn't join them) I said I thought it was crass for their representative to suggest that the rest of us (UK tax payers) should fund their scheme to find the next generation of potential UK tax exiles.

Quite a different scenario.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

When it comes to drivers living outside the UK for tax purposes, I'm with the great jurist Lord Clyde:

"No man in the country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, so to arrange his legal relations to his business or property as to enable the Inland Revenue to put the largest possible shovel in his stores. The Inland Revenue is not slow, and quite rightly, to take every advantage which is open to it under the Taxing Statutes for the purposes of depleting the taxpayer's pocket. And the taxpayer is in like manner entitled to be astute to prevent, so far as he honestly can, the depletion of his means by the Inland Revenue."

I love that quote.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

When it comes to drivers living outside the UK for tax purposes, I'm with the great jurist Lord Clyde:

"No man in the country is under the smallest obligation, moral or other, so to arrange his legal relations to his business or property as to enable the Inland Revenue to put the largest possible shovel in his stores. The Inland Revenue is not slow, and quite rightly, to take every advantage which is open to it under the Taxing Statutes for the purposes of depleting the taxpayer's pocket. And the taxpayer is in like manner entitled to be astute to prevent, so far as he honestly can, the depletion of his means by the Inland Revenue."

Trendy though it is to quote the wealthy Scottish peer Lord Clyde to support any tax avoiding scheme these days I would rather quote the rather more down to earth Mandy Rice-Davies in reply and simply say "He would, wouldn't he?"

Although I doubt even Clyde would support the current ridiculous situation regarding tax evasion and avoidance today.

[Aysedasi]

Hey Berndfan, you're trendy! I hope that makes me trendy as well for agreeing!

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Flavio Galtieri

Trendy though it is to quote the wealthy Scottish peer Lord Clyde to support any tax avoiding scheme these days I would rather quote the rather more down to earth Mandy Rice-Davies in reply and simply say "He would, wouldn't he?"

Although I doubt even Clyde would support the current ridiculous situation regarding tax evasion and avoidance today.

Depends what's in it for him.