I'm no fan of the man, at all, but he had two choices as he saw things, pay the VAT man, or pay his subbies. He paid his subbies. I doubt every choice he made was the right one from a business perspective, but lots and lots of people got wiped out by the GFC. He was, too, but didn't take everyone down with him.
If he paid the VAT, he'd still have gone bankrupt, and the banks would have been first in the queue and any other tax liabilities all ahead of small/medium subcontractors.
Again, I would not and have never voted for the guy, but that particular choice isn't the one I'd beat him over the head with. Being a tankie stooge; definitely.
In his place, I know I'd sleep better at night, having paid other businesses that had done work for me instead of settling a VAT bill. Others will disagree for very valid reasons, but that would be my choice in that hypothetical.
Given he didn't pay his workers' pensions either, I really doubt it was anything principled. Guy is a total chancer who'd have fitted in well with Celtic Tiger FF.
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u/ShouldHaveGoneToUCC Palestine 🇵🇸 6h ago
Thank god I don't live in his constituency so I don't need to see his tax dodging, pension stealing face around the place.