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Millionaire plumber boss: ‘Tax me 50p and I’m off to Spain’
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor12 Mar 2010
The millionaire boss of London's Pimlico Plumbers today threatened to move his firm to Spain because of the 50p “supertax” on high earners.
Charlie Mullins, whose firm employs more than 150 people and has an annual turnover of over £15 million, said companies would be tempted to “sling their hook” when the new rate comes in next month.
Chancellor Alistair Darling says the higher rate will go up from 40p to 50p in the pound on those earning more than £150,000. Shadow chancellor George Osborne has said he would like to reverse the tax at some point in the next Parliament but has not made a concrete pledge.
Mr Mullins, who started his company with a bag of tools and a van in 1979, said he was already working out how to relocate to the Costa del Sol.
“I am seriously considering saying goodbye Pimlico Plumbers and Hola Puerto Banus Plumbers. Why would an entrepreneur want to build a business in the UK when the only incentive for success is higher tax penalties that only succeed in driving them out of town?
"I don't think I am the only entrepreneur thinking this, there will be others who will be contemplating the same decision. This country will become an entrepreneurial desert. Any fool can work out that this tax hike is a desperate attempt to pay for the government's suicidal insistence on more spending despite the fact we're brassic. It just won't work.”
Reader views (16)
If he does move to Spain I hope he takes his team of cowboys with him. My elderly mother used his company to install a new loo, which constantly blocked because of the way they had installed it. Every time she called them out to unblock it, they charged her 80 quid for a few minutes of using a plunger. Eventually I got another (cheaper) company out to re-install it and no problems since.
- Phil, London, UK, 15/03/2010 10:51
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This bloke has worked hard to build his business up out of nothing - why should he be penalised for hard graft? If the government really wants to save billions of pounds they should stop handing out benefits willy nilly to all and sundry. For example, if women thought they would have to pay for the children they brought into this world and not have all the benefits, they would think twice about getting pregnant, also immigration would go down once they realised that coming to England didn't mean a life of riley with handouts but that they would actually have to work to live here and support their own families. It's about time good old fashioned common sense prevailed in thsi country. The government could save so much wasted money if they actually sat down and thought about where they are squandering it all without having to penalise good honest hard workers who whatever their salary, have worked hard to achieve it.
- Jenny, London, 15/03/2010 10:30
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Most of the previous comments display the ignorance of socialism. The business and its owner may relocate, but that won't stop the company trading in the UK, it just won't pay any tax here.
Instead of getting more than 40% of the profits, the treasury will be getting 50% of nothing. Genius.
- Stew, London, 15/03/2010 10:21
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Bye,and please do not bother comming back.People like you that have gained substancially from your business in this country yet believe more should be taken from you low paid workers to meet the shortfall make me sick.
- Dave, london, 15/03/2010 10:19
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People forget that the top rate of tax is already 54% when you include NI which is simply income tax by another name. We are about to have an effective top rate of 64%, are you all sure that is a good idea, especially when even the Treasury now admits that it will cost more than it collects. The politics of envy perhaps?
- Antoine Desmoines, London, UK, 15/03/2010 10:01
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What a pathetic greedy man!!
- Guy, london, 12/03/2010 16:31
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Bye!
- Andy, london, 12/03/2010 16:22
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The sooner this rip off mertchent leavces leave the UK the better off we will be..He got his high earnings fromm the backs of his workers..now he has made his millions, he wants to take his tool kit to Spain..
I say good riddence to him and his likes
- Louis Boyce, Kingston, Surrey, 12/03/2010 16:20
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The point that is being missed here is that entrepeneurs looking to start businesses may well be deterred from locating that business in the UK with a punitive tax regime. Small business employs more people and drives economic growth. I doubt that Spain is a good location eitther but with many new growth businesses in technology and the knowledge based economy there is plenty of choice as to where to locate. the only thing NU Libor have created is 1 million government non-jobs and a terrible financial mess. Wunderbar!
- James Macleod Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, 12/03/2010 15:30
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Hasta la vista baby! I'll be paying 50% tax next year and am more than happy to stay in the UK.
- Ned, London, 12/03/2010 13:57
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Sounds like an excuse to increase call out charges.
- Dereck, London, still UK but only just, 12/03/2010 13:47
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Spain as well as most other European countries (except Switzerland) have higher taxes then here in the UK so it doesn't make sense to move there for that reason.
- John, Kensington, 12/03/2010 13:38
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Go ahead Charlie - there are thousands of able plumbers who don't charge the prices you do for the same job.
Lets see if you actually do it - I dont think so, why? becuase you will have to start from scratch there and it will take another 20yrs.
Now close your leaking pipe mouth and pay your dues, you are not starving - just greedy.
- Ancient Wisdom, London, England, 12/03/2010 13:25
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After what they tried to charge me for a quote I say Good riddance
- Dc, London, 12/03/2010 12:51
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Well off you go then. After living in Spain for several years I can confirm he'll be paying a lot more tax there than here!
- Richard, London, 12/03/2010 12:45
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Off you go then, or is this just for publicity, are we seriosly to believe that he will get rid of his business here, to jump into the very frustrating world of expat Spanish residency and business set up? Incidentally has anyone been to Puerto Banus recently its a shadow of its former self so he is welcome to it. All to save himself 5% when he is as you say already a millionaire?
- H, London, UK, 12/03/2010 12:38
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