Paul Weller sues former accountants after being dropped over Gaza statements
In a pre-action letter seen by the PA news agency, lawyers for Weller say the singer-songwriter was told in March that the accountants and tax advisers would no longer work with the 67-year-old or his companies.
According to the letter, a WhatsApp message from a partner at the firm included: 'It's well known what your political views are in relation to Israel, the Palestinians and Gaza, but we as a firm are offended at the assertions that Israel is committing any type of genocide.
'Everyone is entitled to their own views, but you are alleging such anti-Israel views that we as a firm with Jewish roots and many Jewish partners are not prepared to work with someone who holds these views.'
Lawyers for Weller claim that by ending their services, the firm unlawfully discriminated against the singer's protected philosophical beliefs including that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that Palestine should be recognised as a nation state.
Weller said: 'I've always spoken out against injustice, whether it's apartheid, ethnic cleansing, or genocide. What's happening to the Palestinian people in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe.
'I believe they have the right to self-determination, dignity, and protection under international law, and I believe Israel is committing genocide against them. That must be called out.
'Silencing those who speak this truth is not just censorship – it's complicity.
'I'm taking legal action not just for myself, but to help ensure that others are not similarly punished for expressing their beliefs about the rights of the Palestinian people.'
Weller will donate any damages he receives to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, the legal letter also states.
Cormac McDonough, a lawyer at Hodge Jones and Allen, representing Weller, said that his case 'reflects a wider pattern of attempts to silence artists and public figures who speak out in support of Palestinian rights'.
Mr McDonough added: 'Within the music industry especially, we are seeing increasing efforts to marginalise those who express solidarity with the people of Gaza.'
Harris and Trotter have been contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
20 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Netanyahu brands Australia's Albanese ‘weak' over Palestinian state recognition
Mr Netanyahu's extraordinary public rebuke came after an August 11 announcement by Mr Albanese that his government's recognition of a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The announcement was followed by tit-for-tat cancellations of Australian and Israeli visas. 'History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews,' Mr Netanyahu posted on social media. Mr Albanese responded pointedly on Wednesday: 'I treat leaders of other countries with respect. I engage with them in a diplomatic way.' 'I don't take these things personally,' Mr Albanese added. 'Increasingly there is global concern and global concern because people want to see an end to the cycle of violence that we have seen for far too long. That is what Australians want to see as well.' Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke further inflamed Israel's anger by cancelling the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, a member of Mr Netanyahu's coalition, who planned an Australian speaking tour. Mr Rothman is a member of the Religious Zionism party, which supports continuation of the war, the mass relocation of Palestinians through what it describes as voluntary migration and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza. Mr Burke on Wednesday accused Mr Netanyahu of 'lashing out' against Australia as he had done against Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, Norway and Spain over recognition of a Palestinian state. Mr Burke denied Mr Albanese was weak. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,' Mr Burke told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar retaliated on Monday for Mr Rothman's treatment by revoking visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Saar also told the Israeli Embassy in Australia to 'carefully examine' any official visa applications from Australia to Israel. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong responded by accusing the Netanyahu government of isolating Israel. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry – the nation's peak advocacy group, said the Jewish community was 'profoundly disturbed and concerned by the rapidly deteriorating state of relations' between the two countries. Australian Jews did not feel 'abandoned' by the Albanese government, rejecting Mr Netanyahu's accusation, Mr Ryvchin said. 'When allies speak, they should speak frankly, robustly, but also in a dignified way, and I think firing off tweets which contain elements of abuse to them,' Mr Ryvchin said. 'I don't think that's the way to operate.' Australia is an increasingly multicultural country where more than half the population was born overseas or has at least one foreign parent. There is widespread community concern over the Israel-Hamas war, indicated by tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marching over the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month. Antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels across Australia, which the government acknowledged last year by appointing the nation's first special envoy to combat antisemitism, Sydney lawyer Jillian Segal. Australia's conservative opposition party has pledged to reverse Australia's recognition of Palestine if it wins the next election, which is due in 2028.
Glasgow Times
21 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Netanyahu brands Australia's Albanese ‘weak' over Palestinian state recognition
Mr Netanyahu's extraordinary public rebuke came after an August 11 announcement by Mr Albanese that his government's recognition of a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The announcement was followed by tit-for-tat cancellations of Australian and Israeli visas. 'History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews,' Mr Netanyahu posted on social media. Benjamin Netanyahu (Ronen Zvulun/Pool Photo via AP) Mr Albanese responded pointedly on Wednesday: 'I treat leaders of other countries with respect. I engage with them in a diplomatic way.' 'I don't take these things personally,' Mr Albanese added. 'Increasingly there is global concern and global concern because people want to see an end to the cycle of violence that we have seen for far too long. That is what Australians want to see as well.' Australian home affairs minister Tony Burke further inflamed Israel's anger by cancelling the visa of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, a member of Mr Netanyahu's coalition, who planned an Australian speaking tour. Mr Rothman is a member of the Religious Zionism party, which supports continuation of the war, the mass relocation of Palestinians through what it describes as voluntary migration and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza. Mr Burke on Wednesday accused Mr Netanyahu of 'lashing out' against Australia as he had done against Britain, Canada, France, Ireland, Norway and Spain over recognition of a Palestinian state. Mr Burke denied Mr Albanese was weak. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry,' Mr Burke told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar retaliated on Monday for Mr Rothman's treatment by revoking visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority. Mr Saar also told the Israeli Embassy in Australia to 'carefully examine' any official visa applications from Australia to Israel. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong responded by accusing the Netanyahu government of isolating Israel. Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry – the nation's peak advocacy group, said the Jewish community was 'profoundly disturbed and concerned by the rapidly deteriorating state of relations' between the two countries. Australian Jews did not feel 'abandoned' by the Albanese government, rejecting Mr Netanyahu's accusation, Mr Ryvchin said. 'When allies speak, they should speak frankly, robustly, but also in a dignified way, and I think firing off tweets which contain elements of abuse to them,' Mr Ryvchin said. 'I don't think that's the way to operate.' Australia is an increasingly multicultural country where more than half the population was born overseas or has at least one foreign parent. There is widespread community concern over the Israel-Hamas war, indicated by tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marching over the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month. Antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels across Australia, which the government acknowledged last year by appointing the nation's first special envoy to combat antisemitism, Sydney lawyer Jillian Segal. Australia's conservative opposition party has pledged to reverse Australia's recognition of Palestine if it wins the next election, which is due in 2028.
Glasgow Times
21 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Treasury minister fails to rule out hitting homeowners with capital gains tax
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reported to be considering ending the current exemption from CGT for primary residences as she seeks ways to raise cash in the face of dire warnings about the state of the public finances. Such a move would see higher-rate taxpayers pay 24% of any gain in the value of their home, while basic rate taxpayers would be hit with an 18% levy. Treasury minister Torsten Bell declined to rule out hitting the sale of family homes with CGT (Jordan Pettitt/PA) The Times reported that under the proposals being considered for the autumn budget, the private residence relief would end for properties above a certain threshold. The threshold is still under consideration but a £1.5 million starting point would hit around 120,000 homeowners who are higher-rate taxpayers with capital gains tax bills of £199,973, the newspaper reported. Treasury minister Torsten Bell declined to rule out hitting people selling their homes with CGT, insisting any potential changes were matters for the Chancellor and would be set out at a budget. Asked to rule out the move, the pensions minister told broadcasters: 'Working people and people's living standards is what this Government is all about. 'We've seen wages rise more in the first 10 months of this Government than the first 10 years of the last Conservative government. 'But of course, as you know, questions for tax are for the budget and they're for chancellors.' Ending primary residence relief could deter people from selling their homes, slowing the housing market and could have a particular impact for older people looking to downsize. The Labour government has ruled out increasing income tax, employees' national insurance contributions and VAT, restricting Ms Reeves' options when it comes to raising money. The scale of the challenge facing her in the autumn budget was illustrated by the NIESR economic think tank warning this month that Ms Reeves is set for a £41 billion shortfall on her self-imposed rule of balancing day-to-day spending with tax receipts in 2029-30.
