It's some time since I watched BBC's 'premier' current affairs and documentary programme, but as yesterday evening's show was about Ecclestone, I decided to make an effort and view it.

What a grim, gimmicky and thoroughly underwhelming documentary it was. It's difficult to believe that this once revered show has succumbed to the ubiquitous dumbed-down style and presentation. It's tone-of-voice was similar to tosh such as 'Rogue Traders' and 'DIY S.O.S.'.

It was a great advertisement for Bernie's tax consultants though; an alleged $2 billion tax liability offset with a special arrangement with HMRC and only a £10 million payment.

Some of the numbers bandied around describing Bernie's wealth, house payments and expenditure were otherworldly. It raised with me the age-old question, 'When is enough, enough?'.

 

If you've seen the film "1", Lord Hesketh recounts the story of the TV rights. Bernie (when he owned Brabham) came to the other 9 FOCA team bosses and said "I've bought the TV rights for £1m. You can each have 10%, that's £100K each". And to quote Hesketh "Nine idiots sat there". They all decided that they could do much better things with £100K and said no. And that's how Bernie became a billionaire.

Didn't watch Panorama, but as I understand the story HMRC failed to find anything to prove that Bernie owed this £2bn in tax that is alleged, and agreed the £10m as it was better than the zero he actually owed. So really you could look at it as HMRC accepting a bribe to not investigate further.

And really it's his ex-wife (i.e. they're now divorced) that has all the money, though the £100m per year as a divorce settlement probably isn't bad.

 

I absolutely agree - what an awful piece of journalism, and my how Panorama has fallen.

Whilst I have absolutely no doubt that Bernie is as dodgy as a dodgy thing, I am at a loss to understand what point Panorama were trying to make...OK, he has avoided paying a lot of tax, and whilst there may be moral objections to this, I cant see that he has done anything illegal. The idiot journo standing outside the court and shouting '...Mr Ecclestone is it true you have avoided paying $2 billion tax...' was cringe-worthy and it is not at all surprising that Bernie just ignored him.

 

Not watched the documentary but I'm controversially actually starting to like Ecclestone more and more.

£10m is still more tax than I'd pay in 10 life times and honestly he has made his money internationally why should it go into our governments coffers so they can give themselves above inflation pay rises during economic crisis and piss it away on inefficient nationalised organisations and illegal wars?

He provides me with entertainment so as long as he isn't murdering or raping any one I say fair play to him.

 

I watched half of it and gave up
Very weak and poorly researched
Sour grapes from Eddie Irvine
If the other team owners did turn the TV rights down more fool them
If there were bungs they had the desired effect and secured a bright future for f1
If Bernie got hyper minted in the process then so be it after all he took ALL the risk and made it what it is today
I'm not a fan of his "games" or his off spring but respect where respect a due!

 

I would suggest your moral compass requires realigning.

 

Professionally I am intimately acquainted with the type of Trust arrangements which were described in the programme. I found the whole programme rubbish masquerading under the banner of investigative journalism. I can dimly remember when Panorama was worth watching because it did investigate and thoroughly. That way it used to be a 1 hour slot. Now we get 30 minutes of shallow reportage.

 

bernie took out a scheme to avoid inheritance tax...and at 40% who would blame him,it ridiculous.

 

Given the public persona of his daughters, the rate in his instance ought to be 100%.

As I posted, earlier, when is enough, enough?

He's allegedly worth billions and his offspring will pay several hundred million of it in inheritance tax. I can't imagine many of planet earths' 7 billion or so inhabitants having any sympathy with the beneficiaries of Bernie's will.

 

That's your opinion
I'm more than happy with which way it points