IRVINE Welsh has issued a curt response to an anti-SNP Twitter troll who claimed he used the same tax loophole as Rishi Sunak’s wife.
Akshata Murty made headlines after it was revealed that she was paying £30,000 a year in order to be classified as “non-domiciled” in the UK for tax purposes.
The “non-dom” arrangement, in place despite her living on Downing Street, meant she was able to avoid paying millions to the Treasury her husband runs.
The outrage led her to U-turn for the good of her husband’s career, although it may prove a little like shutting the barn doors after the horse has bolted.
Not content with a scandal engulfing the second most powerful office in the UK however, one Twitter troll was determined to use the news to attack the SNP.
The troll – whose profile includes a charming banner of North Korean soldiers wearing SNP badges – wrote: “Irvine Welsh, Alan Cummings [sic], Brian Cox, Gérard Butler [sic, apparently he’s French now], Martin Compston and more all SNP followers loved by the party and the Yes movement, all non-dom and don't pay taxes earned abroad.
“One to remember when the SNP mention it.”
The tweet was originally post on April 7, but Welsh was urged to respond by another user. They wrote: “@IrvineWelsh Mr Whataboutary is having a go … can you provide him with one of your caustic, but highly justifiable, responses.”
Soon after, the Trainspotting author wrote: “Tell that to HMRC Cumbernauld, you utter weapon.”
Tell that to HMRC Cumbernauld, you utter weapon. https://t.co/jgWxiajakg
— Irvine Welsh (@IrvineWelsh) April 11, 2022
He’s not the only person listed by the troll to have been forced to speak out about their tax affairs.
Alan Cumming wrote on Twitter in 2019 in response to a similar allegation: “First of all I have both UK and US citizenship and am resident and pay taxes in both countries.
“Secondly, and most importantly, I'm allowed to have and express an opinion about anything I choose, regardless of where I live. To say I can't is censorship (and unScottish).”
READ MORE: Martin Compston leads backlash against Tory plot to 'rig' indyref2
In February, Line of Duty star Martin Compston wrote in response to another: “Since last July alone I’ve paid over a quarter of a million pounds to HMRC Cumbernauld.
“I don’t get credit for that, it’s what I owe. It should earn me the right not to listen to Unionist troll pish every time I’m announced to appear at an event in my home country.”
As The National reported in early February, HMRC Cumbernauld is to close down after four decades with the losses of dozens of jobs.
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