This is an interesting case, that arose after the death of Mr Cockell (D) a tattoo artist of some renown, when one of his adult children (A) made a claim for reasonable provision from his estate. The twist in this case was that the existence of A was entirely unknown to D’s wife (W) and his other children, until after his death. It seems that D had led somewhat of a double life. It appears that D had somewhat exaggerated his assets and the extent of his tattoo business. He had also made various promises of financial and other support to the applicant.

Western governments are under severe financial pressure with budget deficits and the costs of borrowing spiralling. There are growing calls, from the political left for wealth taxes to be imposed on billionaires. Wealth taxes fail because of capital flight. Adopting lessons learned from the OECD’s global minimum corporate tax inequality economist, Gabriel Zucman has set out a blueprint for a global wealth tax of 2%, that will put an end to capital flight.

The prospect of a global wealth tax is unlikely during the Trump administration. However, the OECD, which appears to have adopted an overtly Euro-leftist political agenda, is likely to continue working on the mechanisms to put in place global wealth tax, albeit in a way that is aimed at not antagonising the current U.S. administration.

In Futter v Futter; Pitt v Holt [2013] UKSC 26 a seven-justice panel of the Supreme Court clarified the equitable jurisdiction to rescind a voluntary disposition on the grounds of mistake.