Because of the role that offshore centres play in allowing companies and individuals to avoid, indeed evade, tax, they enjoy powerful backing.

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But by the same token, he lacks powerful people backing the changes.

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But Kenagy has some powerful supporters backing his experiment.

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The U.S. program has been kept alive with backing from powerful pols such as Alaska's ranking Senator Ted Stevens, a World War II veteran and chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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In the build-up to the vote in New York, Israel worked hard to derail the Palestinian strategy - or at least to try to ensure the backing of a network of powerful allies.

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Now much of the ruling party's core Sinhalese base seems to be lining up behind Mr Wickremanayake, and he has the backing of the country's powerful Buddhist monks.

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In addition, the poll showed that the mayor's support among whites is slipping, and that Mr Ford may be taking from him the backing of some of Memphis's powerful unions.

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McMickle claims to have the backing of nearly 100 church leaders, a powerful constituency in the inner city, while Johnson already represents half the district.

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On paper she has a powerful grip on the legislature, with over 70% of the lower-house and a majority of the senate backing her coalition.

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