A tax scandal surrounding Danish Social Democratic leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt and her British spouse, Stephen Kinnock has been resolved in the couple’s favour, according to their accountant.
Earlier this year, Thorning-Schmidt was forced to cut her holiday short and return to Denmark after BT newspaper published a series of articles alleging that the couple were not paying enough tax.
In question was the amount of time Kinnock spends in Denmark each year, his foreign-earned income and the pair’s Copenhagen home. Speaking to broadcaster DR this week, however, the couple’s accountant said his clients would be cleared of any wrongdoing in the forthcoming decision from the Skat tax authority.
It was alleged that for a significant period, Mr Kinnock, who is the son of former UK Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock, was not paying any taxes in either Denmark or the United Kingdom.
The accountant, however, said that Skat found Mr Kinnock did not have to pay taxes in Denmark between 2007 and 2009. During this time, Mr Kinnock was paying taxes in both Britain and Switzerland while working for the British Council and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where he is still employed.
Thorning-Schmidt, who is campaigning to become Denmark’s next prime minister, has not yet commented on the announcement.
A politician paying their taxes?! What next; a pig with a pilots licence!