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Tory 'Joe Plumber 'went bust in boom'
Joe Murphy, Political Editor05.12.08
A builder recruited by David Cameron to be the Tories' answer to "Joe the Plumber" faced questions about his business dealings today.
Shane Prescott was given star billing in the latest Conservative party broadcast last night, with Mr Cameron hailing him as an example of a successful small businessman struggling in recent months because of the recession.
But Companies House records show his firm went into liquidation at the height of the boom in 2006 owing £240,000 to creditors, including £174,000 to Revenue & Customs.
A few weeks after receivers were appointed, Mr Prescott went on a holiday with his wife Joanne to Australia to watch the Test Match, a trip which reportedly cost £11,000.
The Merseyside loft conversion specialist remains in business at the same address and has six past and present directorships listed in his name.
Mr Prescott's records appeared to contradict last night's Tory broadcast, in which Mr Cameron said the firm had prospered for 20 years and had only struggled in recent months.
"Times are hard for many people now," said Mr Cameron. "Shane and Joanne Prescott have four children. They have been running their own successful building company for 20 years.
"In the last few months business has slowed. Things are incredibly hard."
Mr Prescott featured heavily in the video, shown on TV and the Internet, which echoed the way US presidential candidate John McCain made a star of Joseph Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, to mount attacks on Barack Obama's tax plans. That campaign backfired when Mr Wurzelbacher was alleged to be unlicensed and had not completed an apprenticeship. According to Companies House returns, Shane Prescott Building Contractors appointed liquidators on 21 December 2006.
Its summary of liabilities showed unsecured preferential claims of £77,529 in PAYE and National Insurance, £50,000 in corporation tax and £50,000 to Customs & Excise. Almost £70,000 was owed by the firm to his wife Joanne. Total liabilities were £245,929 but assets amounted to just £5,000.
Mr Prescott then became a director of SJP Building Contractors Limited, trading at the same address. Other directorships include Prescott Building Contractors Limited, S Prescott Building Contractors Ltd, Prescott Building Contractors (NW) Ltd, Shane Prescott Building Contractors (NW) Ltd.
The Standard contacted Mr Prescott on his mobile phone but the line went dead after we invited his comments. Messages were also left on his company answering machine.
A Conservative Party spokesman said Mr Prescott had been hit by "a retrospective tax change" that forced his company into liquidation through no fault of his own. "He was screwed because the Government changed the rules.
"He had to pay a retrospective tax bill for the previous 10 years," he added. "His company could not deal with it. David Cameron was right to say he has been in business for 20 years."
Reader views (19)
Another Southport big time Charlie shown up for what he really is.
- Old Mcdonald Nigeria., Lagos Nigeria
Good grief, Zanu Labour's stooges are out in force today. 'Harold Lloyd', 'Arthur Atkins', 'Tommy Cockles'. Yeah, sounds like similar spite and dross all from the same source. How humiliating stooging for Brown and his corrupt goons.
- Mac, London, UK
If you are a middle-aged political leader whose poll lead has evaporated, who has told the world that leaks are good and who is going rapily bald, then you don't have time to do a PPB which you always thought you were good at. So you let the work experience kids at Tory Cental Office run your Party Political Broadcast. Get a bankrupt builder in they say and find one. Job done.
- Harold Lloyd, Acton UK
Next week's PMQ's should be amusing. Why did a man who considers himself a serious politician do anything so stupid? Bring on the Punch and Judy Show!
- Major John, Acton UK
Any chance of David Camoron appearing on one of the weekend political shows and apologising for putting out a misleading advert. He could also publicly sack those responsible. I don't think he'll appear this weekend or if he does we'll get him complaining about Damian Green.
- E Heath, Acton UK
You would have thought that even a total incompetent like David Camoron would have been able to find a person genuinely damaged by the recession. However Dave seems content to peddle lies even if it affects his niceness. Even the useless Major managed to find his old house in a PPB.
- Harold Lloyd, Acton UK
Dopey Dave does it again. Will someone in the Conservative Party wipe his nose, put his cap on straight and tell him to keep his daft copycat ideas to himself. Pleeeease.
- Michael Murphy, brightlingsea england
It's about time the government looked at the rules surrounding limited companies. Honest business people need it, but the tax dodgers abuse it. And what about the other creditors left in the cold. Aren't many of them small to medium sized businesses just like Prescott?
- Jules, Southport, England
Camoron's team of young researchers are totally incompetent. Don't they realise that Joe the Plumber and Tito the Builder did not help the equally incompetent McCain/Palin ticket to get elected in the UK. Was Dave's PPB a pilot for a new comedy series called 'Tory Britain'?
- Tommy Cockles, Acton UK
Tory supporter Prescott is a perfect role model fot the 21st century Conservative Party.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Typical Tory, dodgy tax dodging business man that rips off his customers and lives high on the hog on others misery.
- Kerry, Purley
Sleaze and Spin another day in politics.
- Bob, Newark, UK
This government under Gorden Brown is taking action to protect ordinary us blokes and our families now. Protect us againat the gread and incompitence of the finacial fat cats. These are the people who swell the conservative pary coffers.
Their blatant greed is bing demonstrated even as I write this. Anything the goverment gives to help us is used to fill their money belts.
The only way to make them pay for their greed is to take away thier ill gotten gains and implement laws so they forfiete the millions they made whilst causing this mess.
A windfall tax would be a good place to start.
- Joe Little, Todmorden U.K.
Ha ha ha,and you thought we believed your Tory party broadcast.
- Kev, London
Perhaps the Tories have decided that this a good election to lose? Hope Brown comes back in a minority govt to soak up all the pain of the depression, then force him out a bit later, hoping for a long run in power? They can't have actually thought that parading unscrutinised hard-luck stories was a good idea?
- Mdj, Leyton, london
Just go's to show.........you cant believe or trust Tory Propaganda. Same old Tories, strangers to the truth!
- Tim, Newport
Maybe the Conservative Party could clarify why he had to pay a RETROSPECTIVE tax bill, rather than tax that was (allegedly) payable at the time, under the accepted rules at the time.
- Jay, London
the sooner we have 'Another Party' to vote for the better. Not the dross we are presented with today - the usual suspects. The only chance the UK has is a real change!
- Fly, london
So balding Dave Camoron employed a tax dodger for his PPB. What a surprise, still the Tory bloggers will rally round Dave and tell us the truth as seen by Tory Central Office. Will we never get a Republican Government elected in this Country?
- Arthur Atkins, uxbridge UK
