Ben Goldsmith - Revision history

Josh Leeson at 10:50, 25 February 2015

2015-02-25T10:50:48Z

Olivia Rendall at 10:56, 18 February 2015

2015-02-18T10:56:04Z

Josh Leeson at 17:13, 17 February 2015

2015-02-17T17:13:07Z

Olivia Rendall at 11:57, 17 February 2015

2015-02-17T11:57:00Z

Melissa Jones: /* Tax avoidance */

2015-02-16T05:25:01Z

Tax avoidance

Josh Leeson: Created page with "'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm WHEB. He is the brother of Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith and son of Sir James Goldsmith. ..."

2015-02-13T17:27:16Z

Created page with "'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm WHEB. He is the brother of Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith and son of Sir James Goldsmith. ..."

New page

'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].

He is the brother of [[Conservative]] MP [[Zac Goldsmith]] and son of Sir [[James Goldsmith]].

He has donated money to both the [[Conservative Party]] and the [[Green Party]].

==Career==
In 2002, Goldsmith founded [[WHEB]], a green investment firm which focuses on 'opportunities created by the global transition to more sustainable, resource efficient and energy efficient economies'. At [[WHEB]] he takes the lead on marketing, distribution and strategy.<ref> WHEB Group, [http://www.whebgroup.com/about-us/people/sales-marketing/ People], accessed 13 February 2015 </ref><ref> WHEB Group, [http://www.whebgroup.com/about-us/overview/ Overview], accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>

==Environmental work==
As well as being a partner at WHEB, Ben is the chair of this family's philanthropic foundation, [[JMG Foundation]]. He played a key part in setting up the [[Environmental Funders Network]], 'which brings together 150 trusts, foundations and individuals donors.<ref> Alex Blackburne [http://blueandgreentomorrow.com/features/ben-goldsmith-on-fixing-the-environmental-crisis-through-philanthropy/ Ben Goldsmith on fixing the environmental crisis through philanthropy] ''Blue and Green Tomorrow'', 7 August 2013, accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>

==Tax avoidance==
In the midst of the 2015 Swiss [[HSBC]] tax avoidance debacle, it was revealed that Ben, like his brother [[Zac Goldsmith| Zac]], held accounts with the company. The brothers inherited French nationality and non-domicile status from their father Sir [[James Goldsmith]], and the bank was used to 'distribute a tax sheltered offshore fortune to around 15 family members'. It is said that the money has since been invested by the heirs in UK properties and businesses. When asked, Zac said the offshore structure 'was not designed to mitigate taxation but rather to preserve the assets for future generations' and Ben declined to comment further.<ref> David Leigh, James Ball, Juliette Garside and David Pegg, [http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/11/hsbc-files-show-tories-raised-over-5m-from-hsbc-swiss-account-holders?CMP=share_btn_tw HSBC files show Tories raised over £5m from HSBC Swiss account holders] ''The Guardian'', 11 February 2015, accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>

==Family and personal life==
*Sir [[James Goldsmith]], father. A former [[Conservative]] politician, businessman, environmentalist and eurosceptic.
*[[Zac Goldsmith]], brother. [[Conservative]] politician for Richmond Park.
*[[Kate Rothschild]], ex-wife. A descent of the family who own [[N M Rothschild & Sons]]<ref> Paul Cheston [http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/ben-goldsmith-and-kate-rothschild-divorce-is-settled-in-65-seconds-8587671.html Ben Goldsmith and Kate Rothschild divorce is settled in 65 seconds] ''Evening Standard'', 25 April 2013, accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>

===Education===
*[[Eton College]]<ref> Chris Blackhurst [http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-1655824/Profile-Ben-Goldsmith-WHEB-Ventures.html Profile: Ben Goldsmith, WHEB Ventures] ''Daily Mail'', 14 January 2009, accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>

==Political donations==
Recorded by the Electoral Commission:
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" border="1" float="left" align="left" width="100%">
<tr>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="20%">Date</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="20%">Name of donor</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="20%">Amount</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="20%">Donated to</th>
<th bgcolor="goldenrod" width="20%">Subsidiary</th>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">21/04/2004</td>
<td align="center">Ben Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£20,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Green Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">04/04/2005</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£2,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Surrey Heath</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">30/03/2006</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£20,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">07/09/2006</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£1,500.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">07/02/2007</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£15,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">19/05/2008</td>
<td align="center">Ben Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£10,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">04/03/2009</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£10,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Monmouth</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">06/01/2009</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£3,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">01/04/2009</td>
<td align="center">Ben Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£10,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Green Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">14/04/2009</td>
<td align="center">Ben Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£20,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Green Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Central party</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">17/12/2009</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin J Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£10,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Somerset & Frome</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td align="center">27/05/2010</td>
<td align="center">Benjamin Goldsmith</td>
<td align="center">£15,000.00</td>
<td align="center">[[Conservative Party]]</td>
<td align="center">Richmond Park</td>
</tr>

</table><ref> Electoral Commission, [https://pefonline.electoralcommission.org.uk/Search/CommonReturnsSearch.aspx?type=basicDonationSearch Donation Search], accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>

==Notes==
<references/>

[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Goldsmith, Ben]][[Category:Green Party Donors|Goldsmith, Ben]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Ben Goldsmith.png|200px|thumb|right|Ben Goldsmith]]
+[[File:Ben Goldsmith.png|300px|thumb|right|Ben Goldsmith]]
 '''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].
@@ Line 135: / Line 135: @@
 <references/>
-[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Goldsmith, Ben]][[Category:Green Party Donors|Goldsmith, Ben]]
+[[Category:Conservative Party Donors|Goldsmith, Ben]][[Category:Green Party Donors|Goldsmith, Ben]][[Category:Tax avoidance|Goldsmith, Ben]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:56, 18 February 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[File:Ben Goldsmith.png\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Ben Goldsmith]]
	'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].		'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:13, 17 February 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	~~[[File:Ben Goldsmith.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Ben Goldsmith]]~~
	'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].		'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:57, 17 February 2015
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	[[File:Ben Goldsmith.jpg\|200px\|thumb\|right\|Ben Goldsmith]]
	'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].		'''Ben Goldsmith''' is the founder of environmental investment firm [[WHEB]].

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 ==Tax avoidance==
-In the midst of the 2015 Swiss [[HSBC]] tax avoidance debacle, it was revealed that Ben, like his brother [[Zac Goldsmith| Zac]], held accounts with the company. The brothers inherited French nationality and non-domicile status from their father Sir [[James Goldsmith]], and the bank was used to 'distribute a tax sheltered offshore fortune to around 15 family members'. It is said that the money has since been invested by the heirs in UK properties and businesses. When asked, Zac said the offshore structure 'was not designed to mitigate taxation but rather to preserve the assets for future generations' and Ben declined to comment further.<ref> David Leigh, James Ball, Juliette Garside and David Pegg, [http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/11/hsbc-files-show-tories-raised-over-5m-from-hsbc-swiss-account-holders?CMP=share_btn_tw HSBC files show Tories raised over £5m from HSBC Swiss account holders] ''The Guardian'', 11 February 2015, accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>
+In the midst of the 2015 Swiss [[HSBC]] tax avoidance debacle, it was revealed that Ben, like his brother [[Zac Goldsmith| Zac]], held accounts with the bank's Swiss subsidiary. The brothers inherited French nationality and non-domicile status from their father Sir [[James Goldsmith]], and the bank was used to 'distribute a tax sheltered offshore fortune to around 15 family members'. The money has reportedly since been invested by the heirs in UK properties and businesses. When asked, Zac said the offshore structure 'was not designed to mitigate taxation but rather to preserve the assets for future generations'. Ben Goldsmith declined to comment further.<ref> David Leigh, James Ball, Juliette Garside and David Pegg, [http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/11/hsbc-files-show-tories-raised-over-5m-from-hsbc-swiss-account-holders?CMP=share_btn_tw HSBC files show Tories raised over £5m from HSBC Swiss account holders] ''The Guardian'', 11 February 2015, accessed 13 February 2015 </ref>
 ==Family and personal life==