Shining a Light

To my mind the UK's continued 'ownership' of the Rock of Gibraltar is a piece of nonsense - a throwback to a bygone age of empire which is now a bolt-hole for spivs and speculators - from both Britain and Spain.

So I was pleased to read the following article from the Private Eye confirming my suspicions and prejudices - which I now know to be well founded.



When the Spanish began squeezing access to Gibraltar this summer, visiting Tory MP John Whittingdale lost no time condemning the practice and calling for a diplomatic solution. But what was the member for Maldon doing on the Rock?

A glance at the register of MPs' interests reveals that Whittingdale went on the £1,170 jaunt this August to enjoy the sunshine with anti-taxlobbyists from the online gambling industry. He travelled courtesy of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association, a trade group for online gambling firms including Bet 365, Ladbrokes, Gala and 32 Red.

The firms moved to Gibraltar to exploit a loophole whereby bets placed with them by punters in the UK pay tax not in Britain but in low-duty Gibraltar - at a cost, the government estimates, to the British Treasury of £250 million a year. The Coalition wants to close the loophole, so that, from 2014, best will be taxed in the country where they are placed.

The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association has raised money to fight any changes in the courts. Whittingdale, who chairs the Commons culture select committee as well as being vice-chair of the 1922 Committee, will presumably have heard a full justification for Britain's loss of tax revenue from his generous hosts.

Now you wouldn't read a news story like that in any of the mainstream newspapers.

So, I salute the Private Eye for continuing to shine a light in dark places - where others fear to tread.