Millionairess Ann Kaplan Mulholland hosted a party in Kent last week to celebrate declaring the Lympne Castle a micronation, according to British media. The declaration came in response to Rachel Reeves’s reforms.
The party, which saw drag queens and jesters gether in her 135 acre estate in Kent, came days before the former reality TV star and her plastic surgery tycoon husband exit the UK in response to the Chancellor’s tax changes.
The Principality of Lympne is not recognized as a nation by any country.
Mulholland, who the Telegraph reported had a net worth of £500 million, moved to Britain from Canada in 2022, only three years before her planned departure. She purchased the Lympne Castle soon after arriving.
Reeves removed the non-domiciled status last year, a rule which had allowed foreign workers to avoid paying taxes to the British government on income and gains they made overseas.
Those who reside in the UK for more than 10 years may now also have their global assets taxed by Britain when they die.
The 64-year-old said that it just “didn’t make any sense” for the couple to continue their “dream life” in Britain under the current regulations.
Moving to Italy
“We could have gone to Dubai or Switzerland or the Bahamas. But we chose England,” she said, according to the Telegraph. “We pay tax in England, we employ people, we invested in this country.
“To abolish the non-domiciled regime that’s been in place since the 1700s to attract people doesn’t make any sense because we are so mobile. We can just say goodbye and get on a train to somewhere else.”
The couple reportedly have set their sights on Italy for their new home, though said they would consider returning if tax plans changes.
“I love it here. But the thing about Italy is they charge us only a flat fee per year. Why doesn’t Rachel Reeves offer that?” she reportedly said.
“Rachel Reeves uses catchphrases like ‘the wealthy should pay their fair share of taxes.’ Well, we’re really wealthy and we pay our fair shares of taxes," she added.
“It makes no economic sense for individuals with business interests in other countries to stay here.
“I’m a businesswoman. I’m not going to stay here and make a bad business decision.
“If she changed the rules, I would come back.”