The Conservative Party is being blamed by the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties for one of it’s legislators-for-life who chooses not live in this country. Although Irvine Laidlaw makes laws for Britons to obey, he has chosen to live in Monaco and not pay British taxes.
Mr. Laidlaw is reputed to be the second richest native of Scotland but according to a Liberal Democrat legislator has avoided paying £50m in taxes in his country of birth.
The commission that vets appointments to the second chamber of Britain’s legislature has a policy of not endorsing the appointment of legislators not registered to pay taxes in Britain. Mr. Laidlaw has promised the commission that he will register but has not done so. However, the commission cannot revoke his appointment as a legislator-for-life.
Laidlaw was nominated to his seat in Parliament by the Conservative Party to which he has donated £2.2m. He has been interviewed by police investigating the “cash for peerages” allegations.
In an October 2005 debate Laidlaw told fellow legislators “I thoroughly commend the teaching of citizenship and, if the curriculum that I have seen is anything to go by, it will be a very worthwhile activity.”