And what is so wrong with this?

A rich man wants to pay less tax in a country that increasingly (and grossly) penalises people for the *crime* of being rich. How is that controversial? Who the hell wants to give up the money they earn to enable a profligate and deeply inefficient government to spunk money up against the wall?

Frankly, I'd be more shocked if Ashcroft wasn't desperate to save his money from the Chancellor. If only because that would make him really quite moronic. And therefore make me wonder how he earned his billions in the first place.