UK furlough scheme pays out millions to foreign states and tax exiles

  • Date: 19-Mar-2021
  • Source: The Guardian
  • Sector:Economy
  • Country:Qatar
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UK furlough scheme pays out millions to foreign states and tax exiles

Billionaire tax exiles, the British National party, Saudi royals and oil-rich Gulf states have claimed millions of pounds in taxpayer-funded furlough money, the Guardian can disclose.The revelations, based on analysis of government information, have sparked dismay among MPs at the use of a scheme designed to support struggling businesses and prevent mass unemployment, with one complaining of public money being scattered “like confetti”.Beneficiaries behind companies that have drawn on the coronavirus job retention scheme include:Members of the Saudi royal family

Qataris behind Harrods and the Ritz

The ruler of Dubai

Tax exiles Jim Ratcliffe and Guy Hands

Billionaires Evgeny Lebedev, Len Blavatnik and Mohamed Al Fayed

The British National party

The government first published information about claimants last month, when it released data on the 750,000 businesses using the scheme in December 2020. Since then, details of some claimants have emerged, including Tony and Cherie Blair, and golf courses owned by Donald Trump.But many of the beneficiaries have remained hidden until now, often due to complex company ownership structures. The Guardian cross-referenced government data with Companies House filings that reveal who owns a controlling stake in UK businesses.The analysis shows firms owned by some of