Sir James Dyson, the billionaire inventor and prominent Brexit supporter, has found himself at the centre of a political storm after texts between him and Boris Johnson about tax and ventilators were made public. Labour has labelled the revelations 'new Tory sleaze', leading to a difficult Prime Minister's Questions for Johnson.
Dyson, 73, has a history of politically expedient reversals. In 1998 he lobbied to join the euro, calling it 'suicide' for British industry not to. By 2014 he had become a Brexit supporter, later claiming a no-deal Brexit would hurt the EU more than the UK. He was even considered by Ukip as a potential figurehead for the Leave campaign.
His decision to move Dyson's headquarters from Wiltshire to Singapore in 2019 drew accusations of hypocrisy from Remain supporters and criticism from Leave backers. The Daily Mail's Alex Brummer called the move 'disgraceful' and a 'betrayal'. Dyson insisted it had 'nothing to do with Brexit' but was about positioning the company in 'the world's most innovative region'.
Recent company filings show Dyson has moved his main address back to the UK. The billionaire, who employs 14,000 people globally, has an estimated wealth of over £16bn and lives on a 300-acre estate in Gloucestershire.
