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[yoda]

Assets are not considered in qualifying for the state pension, only qualifying years i.e. how many years you contributed towards the state pension.

In my case it is a minimum 30 qualifying years of contributions means I have qualified for the state pension as I have currently 33 years.

Paul, if you receive the state pension and have a private pension income as well, the 2 amounts are added together in assessing your tax liability less your tax allowance, so in effect the state pension is considered as income.

[Al]

State Pension? Whats that?

I've paid taxes wherever I've lived.

Do I get a state pension? No.

Why, because I've accumulated enough assets and because I and my mrs continue to work.

If I were eligible for the pension, I'd have less money in my pocket. Why would I want to do that?

Time to get off the state bandwagon and do things for yourself.

It's paid for in the UK by National insurance Dave. Like an extra tax that was meant to pay for National Health and State Pensions. Nowadays it's just another tax that goes into the general coffers and is used how the government wish but as far as I am concerned if you paid it you are entitled to the state pension and the National Health. Actually now whether you have paid it or not you get the pension etc.

[Baz]

Surely it's semantics if the state pension is a benefit or not?

Cameron will survive for now because he is a tory, a Labour PM wouldn't survive this.

[ultrablue]

The timing of rhis scandal is very interesting. A Tory leadership contest now would basically be a EU referendum months before its actually due to take place. It is in no parties interest for Cameron to resign. Labour certainly wouldnt want it either. Having said that, Corbyn has hit a jackpot of sorts. He gets to bash Cameron and the Tory toffs for weeks with no worries that Cameron will let Boris or other Euro skeptics force him out.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

State Pension? Whats that?

I've paid taxes wherever I've lived.

Do I get a state pension? No.

Why, because I've accumulated enough assets and because I and my mrs continue to work.

If I were eligible for the pension, I'd have less money in my pocket. Why would I want to do that?

Time to get off the state bandwagon and do things for yourself.

I carried on working past 65 mainly because I liked the job. Then one day the pension people sent me an estimate of my projected combined pension. It told me I was actually working for less money than my pension would pay me. It was a no brainer after that. No more getting up in those dark Winter mornings.

[Jock]

Super Injunctions by celebs, are they worth it?

Surely if your famous for marrying someone who's famous and you pay hookers to stick dildo's up your arse your secret will come out.

[adopted scouser]

You just leave yourself vulnerable, like a candle in the wind

[Al]

Surely it's semantics if the state pension is a benefit or not?

Cameron will survive for now because he is a tory, a Labour PM wouldn't survive this.

It may be to you Bas but it is a matter of pride to me that I have never claimed state benefits in my life. I consider the state pension as a right that I bought and paid for and not an unearned benefit.

[Gav]

It may be to you Bas but it is a matter of pride to me that I have never claimed state benefits in my life. I consider the state pension as a right that I bought and paid for and not an unearned benefit.

I'm with you Al, state pension has been earned throughout your working life, you have every right to be proud of the fact that you never claimed benefits and paid into the system, your pension is that 'reward'.

[Al]

I'm with you Al, state pension has been earned throughout your working life, you have every right to be proud of the fact that you never claimed benefits and paid into the system, your pension is that 'reward'.

Thanks GAV.

[VinjayV4]

"Class war" but certainly not the "classy war".

Just wish there were more protests like this (well not quite as tasteless) outside Buckingham Palace. Would be much better trying to protest the benefits for Liz and her family.

[adopted scouser]

"Class war" but certainly not the "classy war".

Just wish there were more protests like this (well not quite as tasteless) outside Buckingham Palace. Would be much better trying to protest the benefits for Liz and her family.

The Royal family are too popular, the Queen is marvellous.

People like you are very much in the minority.

[Tom]

Too right, God save our Queen!

[RibbleValleyRover]

Looking at the tax returns Cameron technically hasn't done anything wrong. The only thing I can question him on was his poor response in the first place that led to Labour and the anti-eu/anti Cameron right wing press (Mail, Telegraph) being able to surround him and keep this story going.

If it was Corbyn under the microscope the Conservatives would be doing the same so I don't have a problem with them trying to keep this story going. They need to be aware though that there is a very good chance that Labour MP's or peers may be involved in this huge documentation leak and that if you throw a load of @#/? around chances are you might get caught yourselves by some of it. There is already talk of Tony Benn's estate and what happened on the tax avoidance front.

The protesters, well the Socialist Workers party organised that hence all those banners. They have been calling for Cameron to resign ever since he took office. Nothing he ever does will be right to them, introducing a living wage and taking millions out of tax altogether and they still want him gone.

[VinjayV4]

Yeah can't account for public taste sadly. How on Earth Liz giving her boring speech (which I didn't have to watch to know it was boring) was the highest rated programme on Christmas Day I'll never understand.

Personally I'm more bothered about the millions they take off the state than Cameron and a few hundred grand.

Not to mention the coverage especially the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Pretty pathetic really that getting more coverage than 16 kids being shot dead the previous year. That's the type of effect I consider when it comes to their ridiculous popularity.

Sadly was probably in the minority there as well and I wasn't anywhere near so cynical back then! People want to moan about benefits? They are the ultimate example being set.

[K-Hod]

The Royal family are too popular, the Queen is marvellous.

People like you are very much in the minority.

I'm not much of a fan of them, but we'd get a lot less tourists through the gate if it weren't for them...

[Tom]

Yet they create more revenue than they cost I would imagine.

Edit - in response to Vinjay

[VinjayV4]

I'm not much of a fan of them, but we'd get a lot less tourists through the gate if it weren't for them...

Come up with some better tourism attractions then. Perhaps with cheaper maintenance than their various palaces and countless garden parties cost too.

The Premier League would have a lot less fans without major overseas players coming in on colossal wages. Of course "footballers" are held up as the example above all else including movie stars, etc. I think that's unfair but the argument in general isn't unfair.

The Windsors though are the worst of the lot.

Sorry but I'm not one for the "that's the way things are" mentality. Yes there's lots of bad things I don't question but we are all hypocrites. Otherwise we would all be missionaries or something.

Yet they create more revenue than they cost I would imagine.

Edit - in response to Vinjay

What did you edit?

[Gav]

Looking at the tax returns Cameron technically hasn't done anything wrong. The only thing I can question him on was his poor response in the first place that led to Labour and the anti-eu/anti Cameron right wing press (Mail, Telegraph) being able to surround him and keep this story going.

If it was Corbyn under the microscope the Conservatives would be doing the same so I don't have a problem with them trying to keep this story going. They need to be aware though that there is a very good chance that Labour MP's or peers may be involved in this huge documentation leak and that if you throw a load of @#/? around chances are you might get caught yourselves by some of it. There is already talk of Tony Benn's estate and what happened on the tax avoidance front.

The protesters, well the Socialist Workers party organised that hence all those banners. They have been calling for Cameron to resign ever since he took office. Nothing he ever does will be right to them, introducing a living wage and taking millions out of tax altogether and they still want him gone.

Where do I start

It took the Prime Minister, the man fighting a war on tax avoidance and tax evasion, 5 days to come clean, and then it had to be dragged out of him. He also told lies about the reason for Blairmore holdings existence, some bunkum about trading in the dollar market, thats why its registered in tax havens in the Bahamas and Panama, lies lies lies allegedly of course, but fibs, he thinks the countries stupid, well they are really for voting for the Tories in the first place.

Cameron received £300k in his fathers will, I think its fair to say some of that money will be from tax avoidance schemes. He also received £200k in gifts from his mother and same rule applies, so £500k in total up to now.

This has nothing to do with Labour, peers or labour donors, this is the Prime Ministers issue and one he's handled very very badly, he should resign.

Anyway we're all saved, because we have a review now taking place which is being led by Theresa May and George Osbourne rotten to the core.

Ps - The Queens a fabulous woman, the Royals still put this country on the map and bring in millions to boot, I have no problem with them what so ever.

[VinjayV4]

the Royals still put this country on the map and bring in millions to boot, I have no problem with them what so ever.

Yeah but actually running the country (an actual tough job) isn't worth anything? Personally I think the PM's main salary is ludicrously low. Not by any means a Cameron fan but quality of life in this country isn't exactly bad is it?

Sorry but the phrase "sheep mentality" is particularly applicable as regards the Windsors. Unfortunately in this particular case it sadly covers a majority rather than a minority.

Guess you were all OK too when Venkys showed up for her but won't even communicate with us?

They haven't done a thing except get born with silver spoons in their mouths. Anyone would be willing to open a few fetes and attract tourism for that kind of money. Stop acting like we should all "bow down to their presence" and be "good, loyal subjects". I'm certainly no subject and there's no way in hell I would bow in front of them.

I know this is tasteless but hopefully they are likelier to be targeted by ISIS (or any of the other terrorism networks that still exist) than thousands of civilians including kids. Of course its not morally right that anyone should be a target but that's how I feel. Certainly not saying that I hope ISIS take them out so please don't twist my words.

Sadly it would probably cause more national outrage than the London Bombings if any of the popular "royals" were killed by terrorists. The Diana death got more coverage in this country than 9/11 how ridiculous is that?

[T J Hooker]

The queen and those next closet in line to the throne are a great tourist attraction with an incredible PR machine but that doesn't account for all the other many other useless spongers in or related to the family.

[Al]

Yeah can't account for public taste sadly. How on Earth Liz giving her boring speech (which I didn't have to watch to know it was boring) was the highest rated programme on Christmas Day I'll never understand.

Personally I'm more bothered about the millions they take off the state than Cameron and a few hundred grand.

Not to mention the coverage especially the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Pretty pathetic really that getting more coverage than 16 kids being shot dead the previous year. That's the type of effect I consider when it comes to their ridiculous popularity.

Sadly was probably in the minority there as well and I wasn't anywhere near so cynical back then! People want to moan about benefits? They are the ultimate example being set.

You've already been knocked back on this Vinjay. Just shut up before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. You don't do yourself any favours do you?

[Al]

Where do I start

It took the Prime Minister, the man fighting a war on tax avoidance and tax evasion, 5 days to come clean, and then it had to be dragged out of him. He also told lies about the reason for Blairmore holdings existence, some bunkum about trading in the dollar market, thats why its registered in tax havens in the Bahamas and Panama, lies lies lies allegedly of course, but fibs, he thinks the countries stupid, well they are really for voting for the Tories in the first place.

Cameron received £300k in his fathers will, I think its fair to say some of that money will be from tax avoidance schemes. He also received £200k in gifts from his mother and same rule applies, so £500k in total up to now.

This has nothing to do with Labour, peers or labour donors, this is the Prime Ministers issue and one he's handled very very badly, he should resign.

Anyway we're all saved, because we have a review now taking place which is being led by Theresa May and George Osbourne rotten to the core.

Ps - The Queens a fabulous woman, the Royals still put this country on the map and bring in millions to boot, I have no problem with them what so ever.

We all give gifts to our kids. Must have given thousands to mine. Nothing wrong with that unless you are deliberately looking for something to throw dirt at somebody.

[Gav]

We all give gifts to our kids. Must have given thousands to mine. Nothing wrong with that unless you are deliberately looking for something to throw dirt at somebody.

If those gifts are from dirty money, to the Prime Minister who keeps saying he's tough of tax, then everything is wrong with it Al.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Where do I start

It took the Prime Minister, the man fighting a war on tax avoidance and tax evasion, 5 days to come clean, and then it had to be dragged out of him. He also told lies about the reason for Blairmore holdings existence, some bunkum about trading in the dollar market, thats why its registered in tax havens in the Bahamas and Panama, lies lies lies allegedly of course, but fibs, he thinks the countries stupid, well they are really for voting for the Tories in the first place.

Cameron received £300k in his fathers will, I think its fair to say some of that money will be from tax avoidance schemes. He also received £200k in gifts from his mother and same rule applies, so £500k in total up to now.

This has nothing to do with Labour, peers or labour donors, this is the Prime Ministers issue and one he's handled very very badly, he should resign.

Anyway we're all saved, because we have a review now taking place which is being led by Theresa May and George Osbourne rotten to the core.

Ps - The Queens a fabulous woman, the Royals still put this country on the map and bring in millions to boot, I have no problem with them what so ever.

Tax avoidance isn't illegal, tax evasion is and the PM hasn't done that. If there is proof of that I would like to see it.

The gift is perfectly legal, and if Cameron's mother dies in the next two years then tax would have to be paid on that gift. There are millions of people across the country that gift to their children or grandchildren and they aren't all millionaires or have big lump sums. Inheritance Tax is an unfair tax in a lot of people's eyes (myself included) so fair play if the system allows some of the Inheritance to become exempt from tax.

People will believe whatever they want to believe on this issue but from a legal standpoint Cameron has done nothing wrong and no tax expert has said that he has. Morally you may have a problem with it, but those are the current rules. And let's be honest here most people if they can find a legal way to pay less tax will, it's just that that the rich are better at doing it.

If it comes out in the coming days that he has evaded paying tax then I will change my stance, until then he has done nothing wrong but make himself look shady by not coming out with the details sooner.