From James Amy.
IN response to Kenneth Godfray’s letter (JEP, 30 September), contrary to the populist nonsense broadcast by some of our current and prospective politicians, rich incomers are of huge benefit to our economy.

They may pay a small proportion of their income in tax, but the nominal amount is far greater than any of us in normal employment would ever expect to pay.

Take Mr Godfray, who, being a veteran of Force 135, is now a pensioner and is quite rightly enjoying benefits from society after his working life. Well, those rich incomers typically continue to pay significant amounts of income tax well after retirement age.

They also tend not to be much of a burden on the state, often opting to pay for private education and health care and not drawing a state pension.

Beyond the confines of income tax and state benefits, their wealth supports the local economy and employment in catering, car sales, retailers, airlines, shipping and more, through consumption and direct investment. They support a good number of local charities and provide sponsorship for many sporting organisations.

There is at least one recently established (in Jersey) hedge fund, led by rich incomers, that has a policy of hiring, training and developing Jersey school-leavers and graduates, as well as sponsoring cultural and sporting events from which they gain no commercial benefit.

If it were not for the rich incomers, the Island would be a poorer place, poorer financially and culturally. We would not enjoy the excellent public services that we do today and the opportunities for more varied employment (no, they are not all financiers).

We would all have to pay much higher rates of tax, or suffer poorer services and state benefits. The politicians who fail to recognise this through their attacks on the wealthy are either of too poor in intellect or too dishonest to represent you and me in our governing institutions.
Beau Regard Cottage,
Rue de Haut,
St Lawrence.