Prem Sikka

Ahead of tomorrow's budget statement. Here’s how the UK chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions by addressing tax and fiscal anomalies. There is no shortage of money. All that is needed is the political will.

Super-rich get ‘double dividend’ from causes and costs of climate crisis. They profit from polluting industries, and through the ‘adaptation economy’. Super-rich buy govts, control means of production and think tanks. Victims pay higher prices for food, homes, relocations. Who governs?

UK Chancellor pledges cheaper marmalade and gherkins in pre-Budget package of 'everyday fixes'. Fiddling at the edges. Need redistribution of income and wealth. End profiteering in housing, energy, water, essentials. Increase tax personal allowance.

CEO of scandal-ridden Deloitte gets 45% pay rise to £7.1m, 1,360 jobs cut. CEO pay = 93 times median employee pay. Firm doesn't pay employer NIC on profits shared by partners, worth £150,000 for £1m profit shared. £899m shared. 108 govt contracts in 2026, worth £650m. Friends in high places.

Politicians should look at the UK economy as a CEO would, says Lloyds Bank CEO From a bank that hasn't investigated HBOS frauds. No thank you. Companies enrich shareholders. Countries have entirely different purpose, governance, accountability. Must not be treated as corporations. archive.ph/lj45s

Healey to ensure state pension (SP) is not taxed for poorest pensioners, SP set to exceed personal allowance (PA). A person relying solely on SP will pay no income tax. Another with lower SP & other source for the same total income could pay tax. Unfair. Cliffe-edge issues. Increase PA for all.

Private equity buys UK fertility clinics. PE already controls social care, hospitals, GP surgeries, dentistry, child fostering. Usual business model. High debt, quality of care declines, prices increase, high profits. When things go wrong, NHS has to step in, PE doesn't pay.

Insolvency scam The boss of twice-bust business back despite £3m debts. These people gut a company, HMRC and creditors not paid. Then buy assets cheaply from the administrator in pre-packs, and back in business. Gone on for decades. No transparency of administrator dealings. No investigation.

Healey to ensure state pension (SP) is not taxed for poorest pensioners, SP set to exceed personal allowance (PA). A person relying solely on SP will pay no income tax. Another with lower SP & other source for the same total income could pay tax. Unfair. Cliffe-edge issues. Increase PA for all.

UK energy bills could rise even more. Regulator is considering a Market Stabilization Charge to guarantee corporate profits. This would force energy companies to compensate consumers’ old suppliers for lost profits when people switch away. What would the govt do? Watch the Minister's reply.

Politicians should look at the UK economy as a CEO would, says Lloyds Bank CEO From a bank that hasn't investigated HBOS frauds. No thank you. Companies enrich shareholders. Countries have entirely different purpose, governance, accountability. Must not be treated as corporations. archive.ph/lj45s

Private equity buys UK fertility clinics. PE already controls social care, hospitals, GP surgeries, dentistry, child fostering. Usual business model. High debt, quality of care declines, prices increase, high profits. When things go wrong, NHS has to step in, PE doesn't pay.

Insolvency scam The boss of twice-bust business back despite £3m debts. These people gut a company, HMRC and creditors not paid. Then buy assets cheaply from the administrator in pre-packs, and back in business. Gone on for decades. No transparency of administrator dealings. No investigation.

Corporate penetration of the NHS’: Revolving door raises concerns over ADHD review. Instead of expanding NHS capacity, govts hand contacts to private providers making vast profits. The same providers meet ministers to influence terms of reviews. More privatisations follow. Public money buys less.

Reform UK's Suella Braverman claims massive taxpayer-funded water bill at home equal to 18 baths a day Claim to have used 1,504 litres of water daily at her £1.2million four-bedroom pad in a five-month period. Reform have promised benefit cuts for the disabled, old, sick, poor, unfortunate.

Beware of finance industry lobbying. It hired PwC (the firm that delivers dud audits) to produce a report, claiming that UK banks face highest rates of tax. The report included taxes not borne by banks. Omitted countries that levy higher rates of taxes. Integrity never gets in the way of profits.

Nigel Farage’s attack on the RNLI and co is a new low even for this bottom-feeder. He wants to prosecute anyone who saves lives of people that he doesn't like. Desperate Farage diverts attention from investigations by pledging laws that can't work. archive.ph/5UYnG/

UK energy bills could rise even more. Regulator is considering a Market Stabilization Charge to guarantee corporate profits. This would force energy companies to compensate consumers’ old suppliers for lost profits when people switch away. What would the govt do? Watch the Minister's reply.

Reform UK's Suella Braverman claims massive taxpayer-funded water bill at home equal to 18 baths a day Claim to have used 1,504 litres of water daily at her £1.2million four-bedroom pad in a five-month period. Reform have promised benefit cuts for the disabled, old, sick, poor, unfortunate.

Corporate penetration of the NHS’: Revolving door raises concerns over ADHD review. Instead of expanding NHS capacity, govts hand contacts to private providers making vast profits. The same providers meet ministers to influence terms of reviews. More privatisations follow. Public money buys less.

Beware of finance industry lobbying. It hired PwC (the firm that delivers dud audits) to produce a report, claiming that UK banks face highest rates of tax. The report included taxes not borne by banks. Omitted countries that levy higher rates of taxes. Integrity never gets in the way of profits.

Nigel Farage’s attack on the RNLI and co is a new low even for this bottom-feeder. He wants to prosecute anyone who saves lives of people that he doesn't like. Desperate Farage diverts attention from investigations by pledging laws that can't work. archive.ph/5UYnG/

The Duchy of Cornwall says it collected £503,711 rent from the King for Highgrove House. Prince William is the Duke of Cornwall. Father pays rent to son. No money left the family but nice PR. Previously, King Charles was the Duke of Cornwall. He was paying rent to himself.

More than third of post offices in TG Jones (formerly WH Smith) stores to shut by early 2027 WH Smith was bought by private equity, shut-down shops. Many towns/districts are without a bank branch or a post office. Cuts footfall, bad news for traders who take cash.

🔴 REVEALED: Palantir led closed-door review of how MoD buys software The review was presented to defence minister Luke Pollard by Palantir UK boss Louis Mosley in Feb and has mostly been implemented None of this was made public New investigation🧵 democracyforsale.substack.com/p/revealed-p...

More than third of post offices in TG Jones (formerly WH Smith) stores to shut by early 2027 WH Smith was bought by private equity, shut-down shops. Many towns/districts are without a bank branch or a post office. Cuts footfall, bad news for traders who take cash.

UK Govt promised to halve consultancy spending by 2025-26. How is it done? By fudging the data and by reclassifying consultancy spending as "professional services". £600m spent. Reliance on consultants means poor in-house knowledge, poor decisions. archive.ph/5Glj6

The Duchy of Cornwall says it collected £503,711 rent from the King for Highgrove House. Prince William is the Duke of Cornwall. Father pays rent to son. No money left the family but nice PR. Previously, King Charles was the Duke of Cornwall. He was paying rent to himself.

UK lacks essential electricity transmission/storage systems. Billions paid to solar & wind turbine farms to switch off during periods of high sunshine/winds, expected to cost £8bn a year by 2030. National Grid pays dividends. What is the Govt doing? Watch the Minister's reply.

UK Govt promised to halve consultancy spending by 2025-26. How is it done? By fudging the data and by reclassifying consultancy spending as "professional services". £600m spent. Reliance on consultants means poor in-house knowledge, poor decisions. archive.ph/5Glj6

Meeting on Financialization of Society in the Houses of Parliament. Private equity has hollowed out the UK town centres. PE now controls infrastructure, social care, hospitals, dentistry, housing, vets and more. What next? A Panel of experts will explain. Get your free ticket here.

Corporate Welfare Rolls-Royce closing in on £200m govt subsidy to fund development of new engine. Free money. No means-testing. Govt not taking equity stake, money not repayable. RR had operating profit of £3.5bn in 2024-25, will hand up to £9bn to shareholders over next 3 years. archive.ph/r18wm

Billionaire Reform UK donor was in business with foundation linked to Iranian regime. He is moving his tax residency from Switzerland to the UK to make “regular payments” of more than “one or two million” to the party. Reform for sale to foreign money, made from dubious dealings.

Deregulation mania. UK regulator plan to simplify Senior Manager and Certification Regime at banks. SMCR introduced after the 2008 crash, interest rate rigging scandals to hold named individuals accountable for integrity. Rules dismantled, banks want bigger profits. Banks will behave, won't they

Some of Europe’s highest energy costs expected in Britain this winter. Since privatisation UK gas storage capacity reduced to about 8 - 12 days, EU has 80 -120 days. UK is net importer of electricity. Wars, privatisation and profiteering take toll.

UK lacks essential electricity transmission/storage systems. Billions paid to solar & wind turbine farms to switch off during periods of high sunshine/winds, expected to cost £8bn a year by 2030. National Grid pays dividends. What is the Govt doing? Watch the Minister's reply.

Meeting on Financialization of Society in the Houses of Parliament. Private equity has hollowed out the UK town centres. PE now controls infrastructure, social care, hospitals, dentistry, housing, vets and more. What next? A Panel of experts will explain. Get your free ticket here.

Corporate Welfare Rolls-Royce closing in on £200m govt subsidy to fund development of new engine. Free money. No means-testing. Govt not taking equity stake, money not repayable. RR had operating profit of £3.5bn in 2024-25, will hand up to £9bn to shareholders over next 3 years. archive.ph/r18wm

Archaic laws. The estate of deceased intestates in Duchy of Cornwall and dying without next of kin passes to the Duchy. Same applies to residents of County Palatine of Lancaster. After deducting costs, money is mostly given to the Dukes' favoured charities. Elsewhere, it goes to the state.

Billionaire Reform UK donor was in business with foundation linked to Iranian regime. He is moving his tax residency from Switzerland to the UK to make “regular payments” of more than “one or two million” to the party. Reform for sale to foreign money, made from dubious dealings.

Deregulation mania. UK regulator plan to simplify Senior Manager and Certification Regime at banks. SMCR introduced after the 2008 crash, interest rate rigging scandals to hold named individuals accountable for integrity. Rules dismantled, banks want bigger profits. Banks will behave, won't they

Some of Europe’s highest energy costs expected in Britain this winter. Since privatisation UK gas storage capacity reduced to about 8 - 12 days, EU has 80 -120 days. UK is net importer of electricity. Wars, privatisation and profiteering take toll.

Banking lobby pushes misleading numbers on tax. Claims UK banks paid £47.8bn in tax; includes PAYE, NIC, VAT paid by other parties; that leaves £25.7bn borne by banks. Silence on profiteering, £100bn subsidy over last 3 years via interest on central bank reserves. Banking frauds buried - HBOS.

UK law requires companies to pay dividends from realized profits, must maintain capital. Law is poorly enforced. Water companies flout it. Carillon abused it. Now Govt proposes that dividends can be paid without capital maintenance. Madness to appease corporations.

Everything for sale. Australia investors buy 19 UK ports, previously owned by investors from Canada, Singapore, Kuwait. City of London prefers speculation. Profits will be exported. Unlike many other countries, UK doesn't levy tax on dividends paid to foreign investors. archive.ph/oYm8k

UK Chancellor announces £2bn Energy Wealth Fund after Jackdaw gas project. PR gesture. UK squandered North Sea wealth in tax cuts for corporations and the rich. Norway didn't, has $2.4 trillion sovereign fund. UK govts fight class wars, long-term neglected.

Archaic laws. The estate of deceased intestates in Duchy of Cornwall and dying without next of kin passes to the Duchy. Same applies to residents of County Palatine of Lancaster. After deducting costs, money is mostly given to the Dukes' favoured charities. Elsewhere, it goes to the state.

A gambling company closely linked to Nigel Farage’s right-hand "Posh George" Cottrell got its licence using a document which appears to have been faked. Major coop w/ @coramazov.bsky.social and @georgegreenwood.bsky.social democracyforsale.substack.com/p/gambling-s...

Anglian Water fined puny £1.6M for polluting 14km of River Brain. Ignored alarms telling them that sewage was being dumped. Highest levels of toxic ammonia. AW has numerous criminal convictions. No exec prosecuted, licence to operate not cancelled. Fleecing normalized.

Banking lobby pushes misleading numbers on tax. Claims UK banks paid £47.8bn in tax; includes PAYE, NIC, VAT paid by other parties; that leaves £25.7bn borne by banks. Silence on profiteering, £100bn subsidy over last 3 years via interest on central bank reserves. Banking frauds buried - HBOS.