Asian LEADER 05
15Jan - 28 Jan 2014
Baroness Warsi urges T
Bangladesh political
parties to work for
the interests of
Bangladeshi people
he 10th Parliamentary
elections in Bangladesh
see the Awami League
return to government with over
half of Bangladesh’s constituencies uncontested.
Commenting on the election
results, Senior Foreign Office
Minister Baroness Warsi said:
“We note the announcement
of the results of the 10th Parliamentary Elections in Bangladesh; an election called in
accordance with Bangladesh’s
Constitution.
“Like others in the International Community the UK believes that the true mark of a
mature, functioning democracy
is peaceful, credible elections
that express the genuine will of
the voters. It is therefore disappointing that voters in more
than half the constituencies did
not have the opportunity to express their will at the ballot box
and that turnout in most other
constituencies was low.
“We deplore the acts of intimidation and unlawful violence
from all parties that have taken
place in recent weeks and the
arson attacks on public build-
ings, including schools and colleges, which have been reported
over the weekend. We are deeply
concerned at the deaths of so
many people, political harassment and the heightened political tensions which underlie them.
All Bangladesh’s political parties
share a clear and unequivocal responsibility to work together to
strengthen democratic accountability as an urgent priority and
to build the willingness and capacity to hold future participatory elections without the fear of
intimidation or reprisals.
“We therefore urge the new
government and all political parties to act in line with the interests of the people of Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is an important
partner for the UK and we continue to support its people in
their aspirations for a more stable, prosperous, and democratic
future.”
Benefits capped
for 33,000 households
A
lmost 33,000 households had their
benefits capped by November
2013, new figures reveal.
Capping benefits so that households
can no longer get more in benefits than
the average family earns is a key part of
the Government’s long-term economic
plan to make sure we deliver for hardworking people and fix the broken welfare
system.
Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord
Freud, said:
“These figures show that the benefit
cap is returning fairness to the system by
Statistics released also
show that in November:
• Almost 150 households were capped by
at least £350 a week
• Over 1,000 single people without children were capped
• The top 10 areas had capped over 500
households each and over 9,000 households in total since April 2013
• In November 2013, over 27,000 households had their benefits capped and
since April 2013, almost 33,000 households have been capped overall
Revenue reveals
‘Top 10 oddest excuses’
for late tax returns
W
ith the 31 January tax return
deadline just around the corner, HM Revenue and Cus-
toms (HMRC) has revealed the ‘Top
10 oddest excuses’ for sending in a late
return.
ensuring that families on benefits can no
longer get more money than the average
family earns.
“It is not right that some families on
benefits were receiving amounts of money
that hardworking taxpayers could only
dream of and our welfare reforms are
working to fix the system.
“By exempting people who are receiving Working Tax Credit, the benefit cap is
increasing incentives to move into work
and we already know that around 19,000
claimants potentially affected by the benefit cap have found jobs.”
The following bizarre, exotic and flimsy excuses
have all been used by tardy taxpayers:
1. My pet goldfish died (self-employed builder);
2. I had a run-in with a cow (Midlands farmer);
3. After seeing a volcanic eruption on the news, I
couldn’t concentrate on anything else (London
woman);
4. My wife won’t give me my mail (self-employed
trader);
5. My husband told me the deadline was 31 March,
and I believed him (Leicester hairdresser);
6. I’ve been far too busy touring the country with my
one-man play (Coventry writer);
7. My bad back means I can’t go upstairs. That’s
where my tax return is (a working taxi driver);
8. I’ve been cruising round the world in my yacht,
and only picking up post when I’m on dry land
(South East man);
9. Our business doesn’t really do anything (Kent
financial services firm); and
10. I’ve been too busy submitting my clients’ tax
returns (London accountant).
All of these people and businesses received a £100
penalty from HMRC for filing late. They appealed
against the decision using these excuses, but were
unsuccessful.
HMRC’s Director General of Personal Tax, Ruth
Owen, said:
“There will always be unforeseen events that mean
a taxpayer could not file their tax return on time.
However, your pet goldfish passing away isn’t