Far from missing the point that is exactly my point. I, in common with most people, have earned what little I own. Charlie hasn't. So, when someone says "oh, they pay their way, they aren't a burden on the taxpayer", the answer is cobblers. They pay their way on the basis of land and assets that at some point have been expropriated from their rightful owners, ie the people.

I'm glad you referred to inheritance though, because inheritance does apply to us all, or anyway, anyone with money, and you are right, charlie should have the same rules are the rest of us. So once Brenda pops off to ask God what he does for a living, Charlie should get £ 285,000 tax free and pay 40% inheritance tax on the rest, same as I'd have to.

Oh, but wait. He won't have to pay any bloody inheritance tax: http://www.guardian.co.uk/queenmothe...712192,00.html

Paul Flynn, Labour backbencher and veteran republican, said yesterday: "If some of the richest people in the country can avoid inheritance tax, why not the butcher or baker, or anyone on a lower income than the royal family? Anyone who owns a house in London these days will be liable to have inheritance tax levied on their estate. This [expletive deleted] must end