AMANDA PLATELL: I’m disgusted that multi-billionaire Bernie Ecclestone is not in jail… This case stinks!
How disgusting that he got away with it. How unjust that Bernie Ecclestone, worth an estimated £2.5billion, was spared jail after pleading guilty to hiding money from the taxman.
We’re not talking just a small oversight here, whatever his lawyers might claim about him being unaware of the true position of his affairs. The 92-year-old Formula One tycoon admitted concealing a staggering £416million.
Yet he escaped a custodial sentence after dipping into his bulging pockets to pay an admittedly eye-watering fine of £653million.
It stinks — £416MILLION! Most of us who fill in our tax returns would be jumped on by the taxman if we were out by £416. As everyone knows, it is one rule for the super-rich — but clobber ordinary workers.
What makes it even worse is the kind of man Bernie Ecclestone is. A man who has boasted he would ‘take a bullet’ for the monstrous Russian President Vladimir Putin; who joked ‘women should be all dressed in white like other domestic appliances’; who’s lauded Adolf Hitler for ‘getting things done’ and who was friends and a business partner with the late Max Mosley, racist son of fascist leader Oswald.
Bernie Ecclestone, the 92-year-old Formula One tycoon, admitted concealing a staggering £416million
Ecclestone was friends and a business partner with the late Max Mosley (pictured with Ecclestone in 2002)
Bernie Ecclestone with his young wife, Fabiana. The couple have a son, Ace
He pleaded that at 92, with serious health conditions, a trial investigating his finances could kill him and violate his human rights as he had a three-year-old son. Perhaps selfish, rich old men should think twice before they even have kids let alone use them as a get-out-of-jail card.
His legal counsel said it was never his intention to avoid paying taxes, that he ‘simply didn’t know’ about the hundreds of millions stashed in off-shore Singapore accounts.
How the 4.24 million self-employed in this country — brickies, gardeners, window cleaners — must have laughed, imagining the blistering response from the taxman if they’d explained they were just ‘unaware’ of the few thousand quid they had stashed in savings for their kids.
If there were any justice in this world, Ecclestone would be in prison. He broke the law. He was caught. And he should be behind bars, enjoying weekly visits from his young wife Fabiana and their son Ace.
This week’s judgment was a shameful day for our justice system.
Celebrating her Prince’s Trust Young Achiever award for her larger lady footwear brand, Tskenya-Sarah Frazer was embraced by David Beckham who promised to come to her birthday party, suggesting ‘my wife could sing’. Sadly David, she never could.
Nicole Scherzinger is playing Norma Desmond to rave reviews in the musical version of 1950 movie Sunset Boulevard
How does Nicole look so good at 45?
The enduringly gorgeous Nicole Scherzinger, playing Norma Desmond to rave reviews in the musical version of 1950 movie Sunset Boulevard, proves one thing: how much kinder ageing is to women nowadays.
Nicole is 45 and looks 35. Gloria Swanson was 50 when she played Norma in the film and looked 60. Yet please, let’s none of us pretend it’s just down to healthy eating and a tub of Nivea.
Billy Connolly says humour helps him live with Parkinson’s, that he talks to it, revealing: ‘I say to the disease, ‘I’ll give you a break if you give me a break.’ We’re nice to each other.’
And that wife Pamela has to dress him each morning.
He’s 80 and in frail health — but still so adored that there would be a queue longer than at Madame Tussauds of female fans happy to help Pam out with that loving task.
A warning to Gen Z — aged up to 26 — as a survey finds more than half don’t even pick up the phone when parents call. The time will come when you’re the same age as us Baby Boomers, your parents are frail, you’ll wish you’d picked up the phone all those years ago and you long to speak to them one last time.
Rod Stewart snubbed seven-figure offers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to perform in their countries
You share it well, Rod
Having refused more than $1million to perform in Saudi Arabia, Rod Stewart says: ‘I’m grateful I have the choice whether or not to perform — so many citizens there have extremely limited choices, women, the LGBT community, the Press.’
Rod also snubbed $1million to work in Qatar, unlike Gary Lineker who pocketed £1.6million to present for its state broadcaster and David Beckham who was paid $15million a year for three years to promote the country. Rod says he used his ‘moral compass’ to make a decision. Gary and Becks clearly couldn’t find theirs.
Protect us from hate
More than 10,000 pro-Palestine protesters plan to march through London today — following Hamas’s cold blooded, murderous attacks in Israel and the abduction of some 150 hostages.
When hatred of any kind walks the streets of this country, it is the responsibility of our government to act.
We should have taken France’s lead, banned pro-Palestine protests and hosed participants off the streets with water cannon.
Coleen Rooney (left) says it’s a ‘relief’ to ‘draw a line under the whole mad business’ with Rebekah Vardy (right)
We Vardy recognise you, Coleen
Promoting her Disney+ docuseries Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, Coleen says it’s a ‘relief’ to ‘draw a line under the whole mad business’. That’s the spirit: signing a multi-million pound deal to rake over bitchy text messages between two Wags is just the way to put to bed their trial.
And judging by her promotional poster, Coleen’s becoming unrecognisable — even morphing into her nemesis Rebekah Vardy.
Her world tour is expected to coin her $1.2billion. No wonder Taylor Swift is dubbed the heir apparent to Queen of Pop Madonna.
Meanwhile, Madge’s tour is expected to make $1.4billion.
Both have so much in common — not just 10 or more UK No 1 albums, but each has been called one of the world’s most desirable women.
Yet with a string of disastrous relationships behind them they’re also both serially single. Where’s the fun in all that money and fame when you live Like A Virgin?
Get tough on XL Bully attacks
XL Bully owner Marcus Walsh is jailed for 18 months after his ‘pets’ mauled a woman. Walsh was already banned from owning dogs at the time and had a previous conviction for a similar attack. The judge said he was ‘not a fit and proper person to own a dog’.
You don’t say — throw away the key!
Meghan appeared at a New York mental health event in a $987 Altuzarra jacket after she and Harry were driven one block in a seven-car convoy. In the UK Kate was blindfolded, in a T-shirt, supporting visually impaired athletes by playing goalball — a game designed for them. It’s a team sport, sharing the glory. Not an idea Meghan seems familiar with.
I’m all for King Charles endorsing images of threatened species on our coins. But given that he’s 74, the oldest monarch to be crowned and Harry’s antics have given Republicans a fillip, some fear he’s more endangered than his beloved red squirrels.
