Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News At Six 20171106

Hes optimistic about a deal with uk after brexit. And coming up on sportsday on bbc news slaven bilic runs out of time, as he is sacked as west hams manager. David moyes is set to replace him. Hello and welcome to the bbcs news at six. Tonight we bring you revelations from millions of leaked documents dubbed the Paradise Papers which show how the rich and powerful try to avoid paying their taxes. Whether its a Multi National corporation or household names here in britain, they are all accused of using tax havens to dodge paying their fair share to the inland revenue. The papers show how Lewis Hamilton saved millions in vat on a private jet. Three of the stars in the popular sitcom mrs browns boys have their wages paid offshore. And apple may have saved tens of billions in unpaid taxes around the world by using jersey. The papers were obtained by the german newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of investigativejournalists including the Guardian Newspaper and bbcs panorama programme. Panoramas Richard Bilton has been poring through the documents heres his special report. When you hear tax haven you might think palm trees. Theyre and not all like that. We have arrived in a little place between belfast and liverpool, this is the isle of man, it isa liverpool, this is the isle of man, it is a British Crown dependency and its an important tax haven. We have found that the island offers a special service that the rich and famous love. Hamilton is World Champion. Take formula1 famous love. Hamilton is World Champion. Take formula 1 World Champion. Take formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. In 2013 he made a dream purchase, a £60 million jet. The isle of man gave him back 3. 3 million as a vat refund. Lewis hamilton had to fly his jet here to the isle of man just wants. He came here in 2012 with his then girlfriend, pop star nicole scherzinger. £16 million. Documents show that customs and excise and there were happy to come in early at 6am in the morning to sign off on the deal. There are nearly 1000 jets registered here. We believe they come here because the isle of man dont properly apply the European Union and uk rules. Now, those rules are very complicated. But if you use your playing for fun you cant get vat refunds. But if you use your playing for fun you cant get vat refundslj but if you use your playing for fun you cant get vat refunds. I cant believe i have my own plane still after a ll believe i have my own plane still after all these years. Look at this post, Lewis Hamilton is open about using it for fun. He shouldnt have got a full refund. If they are using it for private purposes, the fact that all this money is being refunded is quite shocking. You should not be getting vat back if it is private usage. Lewis hamiltons lawyers told us he had a set of professionals in place who run most aspects of his business operations. They said isle of man customs gave informed approval to the scheme. In total the isle of man has handed out more than £790 million in vat refunds to jet leasing companies. Isle of man customs has admitted it has given refunds for personal use of jets as has given refunds for personal use ofjets as long as its mainly used for business. That shouldnt happen. Asa for business. That shouldnt happen. As a result of our investigation they have called in the British Government to review its procedures. The Paradise Papers show there are other secrets on this island. We have found evidence that shows just how far the isle of Man Government has been prepared to go to help tax dodgers. The european savings directive was an attempt to stop tax evasion across europe. We have found evidence that the isle of man changed one of their laws to help people dodge the new tax. Now, you might think getting approval for something that could help tax evaders would prove difficult but not on the isle of man. We have letters from lawyers to the islands regulator. If you believe it would be helpful for us to regulator. If you believe it would be helpfulfor us to provide regulator. If you believe it would be helpful for us to provide you with ideas as to how to amend the regulations, please let simon and myself no. In switzerland i tracked down the man who drew up that scheme to help tax dodgers. I want to show you something. The one that needed the isle of man to change the law. Its actually changing the laws, the isle of man changing their own laws so isle of man changing their own laws so this scheme to help tax evaders can work, isnt it . Iwould so this scheme to help tax evaders can work, isnt it . I would agree with you, yes. That is amazing to me, thats amazing. The isle of mans top politician, the chief minister, promised to investigate allegations and apologised if the law was changed for tax dodgers. But what about the regulator himself . Did you change the law to help tax dodgers . He is retired now, i tracked him down. No, ithink dodgers . He is retired now, i tracked him down. No, i think you should help is with this, it was the european savings directive and you changed the law. I have nothing to say. What would you say to our viewers who pay their tax . You should contact the Financial Services authority. But the Paradise Papers have more than faceless financial deals. Hello, love, do you wa nt financial deals. Hello, love, do you want a financial deals. Hello, love, do you wanta cup financial deals. Hello, love, do you want a cup of tea . Weeping three actors in mrs browns boys are involved in a tax dodge. Actors in mrs browns boys are involved in a tax dodgelj actors in mrs browns boys are involved in a tax dodge. I could do with some money to get as a place. Patrick hoola han who with some money to get as a place. Patrick hoolahan who plays mrs browns son dermot. Could have stayed in bed a bit longer . Fiona delaney, the real life daughter of mrs brown star brendan 0carroll. Money, money, good morning, trevor. And her husband, martin delaney. The dodge involves their wages, orfees, going from the Production Company to auk going from the Production Company to a uk company, then offshore to accompany each has in mauritius. Those companies then loaned money to the actors personal accounts tax free. Take fiona delaney. In 16 months hurt Mauritian Company lent her over £360,000. None of the actors answered oui her over £360,000. None of the actors answered our questions. Hurt Mauritian Company. I caught up with fiona delaney. It is Richard Bilton from panorama, can i grab a quick word . She arrived for filming in glasgow. You get paid in mauritius, dont you . What is that all about . And do you pay the loan is back . I dont think you pay them back, are you a tax dodger . is back . I dont think you pay them back, are you a tax dodger . I dont know who you are. I am from panorama, you are from mrs browns boys and you are a tax dodger, thats not very funny, is it . More names from the Paradise Papers, more revelations still to come. Richard bilton, bbc news. Apple is the worlds most valuable company it has a stash of profits worth hundreds of billions of pounds. Yet the leaked documents show how hard the tech giant works to keep its tax bill as low as possible. After ireland banned an arrangement which meant it paid very little tax apple has moved billions tojersey. What its done is legal. Our Business Editor simonjack reports. A rapturous reception for the latest iphone. Its the most popular and profitable Consumer Product of all time. Its generated hundreds of billions in profits for apple its generated hundreds of millions in profits for apple since it was introduced ten years ago. What these papers show is just how determined apple has been to keep the tax on those profits as low as possible. And how keen some governments, lawyers, and advisers have been to help them do it. For many years, apple sent profits made outside the americas to ireland where an elaborate Corporate Structure meant it paid nearly no tax on the billions it was making. Taxes that would have been due to the United States where politicians started applying pressure to a defiant apple ceo tim cook. We pay all the taxes we owe, every single dollar. We not only comply with the laws but we comply with the spirit of the laws. We dont depend on tax gimmicks. So, no more fiendishly complicated tax arrangements, right . Wrong. Documents obtained from the law form appleby based in bermuda show that when ireland shut that scheme down, the company went shopping for a new way to keep their tax bills low. A questionnaire was sent to applebys offices in seven tax havens, all british, including questions that made their intention clear. Can you confirm that an irish company, meaning an apple subsidiary, can conduct management activities without being subject to taxation in yourjurisdiction . After this offshore beauty parade, apple plumped forjersey and Company Accounts published since show theres been no discernible increase in the rate of tax paid worldwide. Now, lets be clear, apple has done nothing illegal but hundreds of billions of dollars remain tangled in a web of low tax jurisdictions, seemingly beyond the reach of any government. The tax equivalent of outer space. And, as these documents show, this is a system that has continually eluded international attempts to reform it. The boss of the International Organisation trying to fix this problem admits its a work in progress. Changing the rules that make it legal means that very of these companies today pay very little or no tax at all. This is what its about. This is what is happening and this is what were working on. Apple actually pays a lot of tax, more than any other company in the world, but not as much as many think it should. Its also not alone. 0ther multinationals use similar structures and us companies alone are estimated to have over 2 trillion stashed offshore. The Paradise Papers show the lengths to which they and their advisers are prepared to go to keep their tax bills low. Simon jack, bbc news. The labour party has renewed its demand for a Public Inquiry into tax avoidance, which si legal and tax which is legal and tax evasion, which is not. The Prime Minister theresa may said in response to the revelations that people should pay the tax that is due. 0ur Political Correspondent vicki young reports. 0nce once again the secrets held in offshore tax havens are raising questions closer to home. Have governments done enough to make sure eve ryo ne governments done enough to make sure everyone pays their share of tax and wealthy individuals including the queen have been dragged into the affair. There is no suggestion she has avoided tax but today the labour leader was asked whether the queen should apologise for her private estate using offshore trusts. Anyone thatis estate using offshore trusts. Anyone that is putting money into tax havens in order to avoid taxation in britain, and obviously investigations have to take place, should do two things, notjust apologise for it, but also recognise what it does to our society. Who loses . What it does to our society. Who loses . Schools, hospitals, housing, all those Public Services lose. Later a spokesman for mr corbyn insisted he wasnt calling for the queen to apologise. The Prime Minister insists she is continuing the work of her predecessor david cameron. So we have the work of her predecessor david cameron. 50 we have seen the work of her predecessor david cameron. So we have seen more cameron. So we have seen more reve nu es cameron. So we have seen more revenues coming to hmrc over the last few years since 2010, £160 billion extra that they have been able to raise. But there is already work thats being done to ensure we see Greater Transparency in our dependencies and british 0verseas territories. Speaker order. The mix prompted an emergency debate in the commons where labour called for a full inquiry and public lists of company ownership. Why will the government not insist that our overseas territories that power tax havens have to have Public Registers of Beneficial Ownership . Why will they not do that now . Ministers insist that this information is available to the tax authorities who can see who the true owners of offshore companies are. Every extra pound that is paid in tax is good news for the treasury as they wrestle with the countrys debt and increasing claims for more funding for Public Services. But ministers know that this is a question of fairness too. That the idea of one rule for the rich and one for eve ryo ne rule for the rich and one for everyone else is extremely divisive. Vicki young, bbc news, westminster. The Paradise Papers also include revelations that president trumps commerce secretary, wilbur ross, has business links to russian figures who are currently under us sanctions. This morning, mr ross said there was nothing improper about his investments. He also said he was optimistic about a post brexit free trade deal between the uk and the us. He was speaking to our economics editor kamal ahmed. He has friends in high places. The highest in fact. The president of the United States considers wilbur ross one of his closest allies. Today in london and defending allegations that his links to russia were uncomfortably close. I asked him whether a connection to the Russian Oil Firm sibur created a conflict. 0ur government has not thus far made the determination to sanction them so there is nothing wrong. The fact that it happens to be called a Russian Company does not mean that there is any evil in it. Where there is evil is the misstatement that i did not disclose those holdings. Mr ross said he had fully notified the office of government ethics about his business interests. I asked him whether it was time for all Major Companies to pay more tax. The right way to deal with it i think is to provide incentives that make the us the attractive place to domicile. The president s idea is buy america, hire america, be american. And therefore pay more tax in america. Yes. If we could move on to europe, what type of relationship would be most advantageous to the uk in terms of its relationship to the us post brexit . Well, the uk right now inadvertently has much higher taxes on imports from the us than the us has on imports from the uk. Thats because the uk is bound by the eu system. So we would like to see those barriers come down, come closer to free trade. The eu talks a good job of free trade but in fact it practises extreme protectionism. Mr ross was in london selling a positive vision of a post Brexit Britain with a free trade deal with the us. He said he was optimistic that such a deal would be signed. Kamal ahmed, bbc news. You can find much more analysis of the Paradise Papers online and you can watch panorama britains 0ffshore secrets exposed tonight at 9pm, on bbc one. Flags are flying at half mast across the United States, after a 26 people were killed in a mass shooting during a Church Service in texas yesterday. Its emerged that the gunman identified as devin kelley had been discharged from the us air force for domestic abuse. It happened in the small town of sutherland springs. From there, james cook reports. Yet again it is a time for morning in america. The masked gunmen was inside the church for a long time, say police. Moving around freely, firing with an assault rifle. Once he started firing rounds on the inside, what could people do . Are there too many guns in the us . Guns dont kill people, it is the people that kill people. Among the dead was an month old child. Annabel the 14 year old daughter of the Church Pastor also died and one family alone lost at least five people leaving their neighbour in shock. have heard two different stories, i heard that dad was killed and that the mum and daughters were killed. Nobody has come to the house yet since lost mike. Police say the killer devin kelley had set threatening texts to his mother in law. He had been thrown out of the us air force for assaulting his wife and child. Very deranged individual, a lot of problems. We have a lot of Mental Health problems in our country as do other countries. But this is not a gun situation. The killer was tackled by a citizen with a gun who jumped in this mans truck to give chase. I did what i thought i needed to do which was they said there was a shooting, i pursued and ijust did what i thought was the right thing. Nowhere it seems americans safe from bullets. The answer . Here they say it is more prayer and more weapons. Guns and god. The Foreign Office says that a british man who was kidnapped in nigeria last month has been killed. Ian squire was an optician giving free medical aid to a Rural Community in the niger delta. Three other people who were also kidnapped have been released. A man has been convicted of murdering his toddler daughter in cardiff, just two weeks after formally adopting her. Matthew scully hicks, whos 31, inflicted numerous injuries on 18 month old elsie over an eight month period. Heres our wales correspondent sian lloyd. Ba by elsie, described as tiny and delicate but with a big personality. At ten months she was placed in the care of a couple with one child who wanted to adopt. Within hours of Matthew Scully hicks arriving at court this morning the jury had found the part time Fitness Instructor guilty of her murder. The 31 year old had covered up months of abuse to social workers, doctors and to his husband. Our thoughts today are with little elsie and those who knew and loved her. Her untimely death atjust 18 months old has had a devastating effect, first and foremost on herfamily who remain at most in our thoughts. This was the 999 call Matthew Scully hicks made when elsie stopped breathing. I was just changing my daughter for bed and then she went all floppy and olympic, and now shesjust not doing anything. Shes lying on the floor. 0k, is she awake . No. Is she breathing . No. 0k, are you right by her now . Yeah, im trying to do cpr. Elsies injuries included a fractured skull, several broken ribs and a broken leg. There was evidence of recent and older bleeding in her brain, consistent with having been shaken and her head struck by a hard object. The prosecution said Matthew Scully hicks was struggling to cope with elsie. In texts to his husband craig, who worked away, he called her a psycho and satan dressed up in a baby grow. Matthew and Craig Scully Hicks had applied to adopt elsie through the vale of glamorgan council. But matthew had in fact been abusing the little girl while social services were supervising the adoption process. The actions of social workers together with the other agencies who were involved with the family will now be scrutinised by an independent review. Matthew scully hicks will be brought back to Court Tomorrow to be sentenced for the murder of his adopted daughter. Sian lloyd, bbc news, Cardiff Crown court. The International Development secretary, priti patel, has apologised after admitting meeting the israeli Prime Minister, benjamin netanyahu, and other senior figures during an unofficial visit to israel this summer. The bbc revealed on friday that ms patel had held a series of undisclosed meetings during her holiday in august. James landale is here with me. Iam not i am not sure, what has she done wrong . When ministers go abroad, they are supposed to tell the Foreign Office. Priti patel did not. She had some meetings during her holiday in israel, we now know there we re holiday in israel, we now know there were 12 including with the israeli Prime Minister and at these meetings there were no Civil Servants but there were no Civil Servants but there was a pro israel conservative lobbyist. This matter is not because there is the matter of policy confusion but it matters because there is a risk that ms patel broke there is a risk that ms patel broke the ministerial code of conduct which says there should be no perceived risk between mps and their private interests. Ms patel apologised, labour says she should resign. 0ne minister said she was toast. Downing street would be hoping this disclosure and apology would be enough for her to survive. Party leaders are meeting theresa may following the allegations of Sexual Misconduct in parliament. The Prime Minister has called for a new culture of respect, saying people should know their complaints will be investigated properly. Several conservative and labour mps have been accused of inappropriate behaviour. This report from our Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg contains some flashing images. Something must be done. A cry heard often enough. But can the political leaders gathering tonight all agree what that something is . The Prime Minister happens to be in charge when long held concerns have exploded. But earlier, she made clear she believes it is a moment for change. This isnt about prying into private lives. What we are talking about is the use and abuse of power. We must stand up for all the victims of abuse, harassment or discrimination wherever it has occurred. Can you say hand on heart that you were not aware of any of the concerns that have emerged in the concerns that have emerged in the last couple of weeks . What has happened a number of stories have appeared in the press, a number of issues were raised with me that did not appear issues were raised with me that did notappear in issues were raised with me that did not appear in the press and as you have seen, action has been taken. Her number two is one of those being investigated. Damian green denies claims there was pawn on his computer years ago or that he acted inappropriately with a young woman. Pornography. In a separate case, another young activists has told the bbc she was raped by someone who worked for a tory mp. She is worried about the westminster culture. have lost count of the number of women i have seen lied to the point they could not stand up and then being escorted out the bars by senior staffers. I have lost count and people dont bat an eyelid. It isa and people dont bat an eyelid. It is a new intern, new mate. The cps dropped her case but there has been confusion about whether ministers we re confusion about whether ministers were aware. The leader of the house first said she did not know by subsequently admitted that concerns had been raised. This place has some fine traditions but also a habit of keeping secrets within its panelled walls when things go wrong. Every party now agrees the solution must be outside the system but what or who . That is not quite clear. Every party leader has turned up to the table tonight, but will this be a rare moment where they all can join together . At least they do agree that westminsters culture cannot stay the same. 2017 is likely to be one of the three warmest years on record. Thats the assessment from experts. At the World Meteorological 0rganisation. They say that many of this years extreme weather events bear the tell tale signs of climate change, caused mainly by human activities. Its report coincides with the opening of un climate talks in bonn. West ham united, whove only won two of their premier League Matches this season, have sacked their manager slaven bilic. The team, currently 18th in the league, are in the relegation zone. Bilic is the Fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this season. That brings us to the weather. Either autumn. My favourite season because of the variety of colour. Take a look at some of the shots today. A beautiful cold, crisp start led to some gorgeous autumn colour and then a lovely sunset to follow. Things will change as we move through the night. A blanket of cloud coming in from the atlantic and some rain which will turn heavy as well. A weather front will introduce a change or feel so this morning it was cold and frosty with the nose down to 11 or minus six. Tomorrow morning, temperatures eight or10 tomorrow morning, temperatures eight or 10 degrees up on what we have this morning. The cloud and rain will push into scotland and northern ireland. Accompanied by gusty south westerly winds. Ahead of it we will have some clearer skies, but the rain will be quite heavy and will take its time to clear. At eight oclock in the morning across scotla nd eight oclock in the morning across scotland we will see some heavy bursts. Brighter conditions behind, not a bad start to the morning in northern ireland. Some of the rain heavy across west wales and south west england. Ahead of it, the odd shower will ward two. East anglia and the south east, you might start off with brightness but the cloud develops, the rain gauges eastwards. Behind it, brighter, fresher, chris burke and conditions with a few isolated showers. And thenit with a few isolated showers. And then it is all changed to a clear and frosty start on wednesday before more wet and windy weather comes. Thats all from the bbc news at six, so its goodbye from me and on bbc one, we nowjoin the bbcs news teams where you are. Hello. This is bbc news with reeta chakra barti. The headlines leaked papers showed that the british formula i leaked papers showed that the british formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton avoided vat when buying a private jet. Three actors in the bbcs mrs browns boys are shown to have diverted their fees through mauritius and so cut their income tax. And tech giant apple has tens of billions of pounds injersey where it pays no tax. Officials say the gunman who killed 26 people at a church in rural texas had sent threatening texts to his mother in law. She wasnt in the church at the time. A British Charity worker is killed in nigeria, three weeks after he was kidnapped by militants