From Cats to Rats

I live on the west side of the Holloway Road in north London. In these Covid days I make regular walks northwards and pant my way up Highgate Hill from Archway, passing the Whittington hospital and its cat. Legend has it that the 15^th century Mayor of London made his fortune by selling his cat to a rat-infested country. So not all money is ill-begotten. And not all legends are true!

At the top I arrive in Highgate Village. This is where George Michael had a house, as still do Sting and Terry Gilliam. Musicians and comedians living there? That’s OK with me, but take a look at this ‘house’. 

 

 

For the last twelve years ‘Witanhurst’, described as the second largest palace in London (after Buckingham), has been under reconstruction. This photo explains why it’s taking so long. It is owned by Russian fertiliser magnate Andrey Guryev and was bought for £50m through British Virgin Islands tax haven company, Safran Holdings. After this work its value has been estimated at £300m.

 

 

Back home and on the other,  east side of the Holloway Road you will find Jeremy Corbyn. Here he is leaving his 'palace' with his wife, described by the Daily Mail as "sharing his zeal for Left-wing politics who imports Fairtrade coffee from her homeland." The Mail has criticised Jeremy for owning his own home. I wonder if his ‘palace’ was bought through a British tax haven.

When Guryev and family finally move into Highgate will we see them on bicycles? No need. Looks like they can get all the exercise they need without leaving home.

Russian oligarchs are major funders of the Tory Party.

 

Talking of money. As at 1.00pm Sunday 26 July donations to Jeremy Corbyn's legal costs are over £266,000