Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.William Nye’s appearance before one of Parliament’s more forceful committees was a masterclass in emollient blandness. Prince Charles’s Principal Private Secretary – called upon to elucidate his master’s financial affairs – smoothed MPs’ ruffled feathers with the suavity that is perhaps to be expected from a lifelong courtier, but is no less remarkable for all that.
What Mr Nye did not do, however, is lay to rest the fundamental question dogging the Duchy of Cornwall – the estate-cum-business from which the heir to the throne draws his private income. If Google et al are open to criticism for their obfuscatory (yet entirely legal) accounting, are the arrangements by which the Duchy escapes both corporation and capital gains tax any more acceptable? Mr Nye’s urbane performance was unsatisfactory because there is only one possible answer: they are absolutely not.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments