trousers

Yes. Next question

I sincerely hope not. We need this charade to keep going for a few more years yet, purely for the entertainment value.

Point of clarification m'lud... Does this mean we can now take all research that comes out of American universities as gospel? Or just the ones that fit a given argument? Just askin' innit like yeah.

...

This chap never interviewed John Prescott I take it? No further questions your honour.

The Big Country

Googling "thumbs up" just brought me here. Most disappointing.

Fair play to Cameron for replying so quickly though

Just posted that HMRC Pompey kit on my Facebook wall....first response from a female friend: "HMRC sponsor a football team???" Not sure whether to reply yes or no!

@pn_neil_allen: Pearce delight at #Pompey stay. http://t.co/hcitqMYj

Ha! Nice one. That needs to go up on Facebook Walls across the land :-)

Indeed. Miss Money Penny, and others like her, are conveniently airbrushing over the recent past. "£20m tax evasion two years ago? What was that you say? Sorry, I'm dealing with the here and now not what happened in the past. La la la la la la"

Thought: isn't aiding and abetting tax evasion a criminal offence?

We made the mistake of not getting in debt to a government run organisation. If we were as shrewd as Pompey we'd have had the same type of publicity and public sympathy because no-one likes the taxman...

That should be cut and pasted into a letter to the board of HMRC with an introductory "I understand Portsmouth Football club have set a precedent in UK tax law....etc" or words to that effect...

Maybe Ed Milliband should intervene on behalf of the oppressed taxpayer? Semi serious thought...

Ssshhhhh.... I won't tell him if you don't... It's when this gets referred to the European Court of Human Rights that you'll have to really start worrying though....Nigel Farage could be our saviour!! ;-)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-16833798

The Taxpayers' Alliance https://twitter.com/#!/the_tpa Britain's independent grassroots campaign for better government and lower taxes. TPA staff: @matthew_elliott @mjhsinclair @emmaboon @isaby @jjpoconnell @roxley http://www.taxpayersalliance.com

I reckon it's these people that should be contacted re: concerns about HMRC being potentially railroaded by politicians.... http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/governance/board.htm

BBC Solent Sport @solentsport Audioboo: Prime Minister David Cameron backs calls for HMRC to thrash things out with #pompey boo.fm/b648732

FFS.... http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Prime-Minister-Backs-Blues-Survival-Bid-3077.aspx Prime Minister Backs Blues Survival Bid Portsmouth Football Club today welcomed a call by Prime Minister David Cameron for HMRC to work with the club to help it survive. Cameron told the House of Commons that it was vital the club continued and that HMRC should meet with the club to discuss its tax bill. Pompey face a winding-up petition from HMRC on February 20. The club is seeking new owners and wants HMRC to give it more time to find a solution to its financial issues. The club’s future was raised by Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons. She said: “If a local supermarket closes down another quickly takes its place. If Portsmouth Football Club closes down, the Pompey fans will not be content with buying their season tickets from Southampton. “Will the Prime Minister add his voice to mine in calling for HMRC to meet with the club so it recoups the taxes it’s owed, that our club survives and that the fans have their chance to become its owners.” Cameron responded: “I will certainly do that. I think she is absolutely right to raise this issue. Knowing one or two Pompey fans I can completely understand. “The idea that they can go and support Southampton is completely incredible. We must do all we can to keep this friendly rivalry going.” In learning of the support from Parliament, Pompey chief executive David Lampitt said: “I would like to place on record our thanks to Penny Mordaunt and to the Prime Minister for supporting the efforts of the club and its supporters in pursuing an exit route from its current circumstances. “We will continue to do everything we can to that end, including working with HMRC and other creditors to ensure that the club has the time it needs.”