Quote of the day

David Cameron patronises the Pakistanis (here):

You are not raising the resources necessary to pay for things that a modern state and people require," he said. "Too few people pay tax. Too many of your richest people are getting away without paying much tax at all. And that's not fair."

You might think that the prime minister of a country that

1. is prepared to excuse some of its largest companies from paying the level of tax that might have been expected,

2. confers knighthoods and government advisory positions on blatant tax avoiders, and

3. allows many of its crown dependencies and overseas territories to act as tax havens, sheltering the wealthy and powerful

is in no position to preach to others.

And you would probably be right.