PCS: Vote for your ‘favourite’ tax dodger
Members of the public are being asked to choose who they think contributes the most to the rising problem of tax dodging, which costs our economy billions of pounds every year.
An online poll, launched today on the False Economy website, invites people to choose from a list of ten candidates nominated by the Tax Justice Network for their part in tax avoidance – an issue which has sparked high street protests by UK Uncut, a new network of activists.
The list includes Philip Green’s Arcadia Group and Vodafone, as well as HM Revenue and Customs for cutting jobs and chancellor George Osborne for his part in making the UK a safe haven for tax avoiders.
– For information and to vote visit taxshirkers.org.uk
The competition, being run by False Economy, the Public and Commercial Services union, the TUC and charity War on Want, closes at midnight on 30 January and the organisers will visit the winner to present them with their prize.
Clifford Singer, campaign director of False Economy, said: “David Cameron said we’re all in this together. But while those at the bottom and in the middle suffer for the consequences of the banking crash, some of our richest individuals and corporations think they can get away without paying their fair share. It’s time to clamp down on tax avoidance.”
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “It is a national scandal that tens of billions of pounds are being sucked out of our economy every year by some very wealthy people, particularly at a time when we are told cuts are unavoidable.
“It is even more of a scandal that the government not only knows this is happening, but is pressing ahead with even more cuts to HMRC, the very department that should be taking action to ensure the tax dodgers are stopped in their tracks.”
Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary said: “While ordinary people have no choice but to pay higher VAT, big corporations and the super-rich find it all too easy to get out of paying a fair tax contribution – we are certainly not all in this together.”
War on Want executive director John Hilary said: “Every day brings a new revelation of yet another company failing to pay its tax dues. Now we learn that Barclays has more than 300 subsidiaries in tax havens, just as City bankers line up for their new year bonuses.
“The government must crack down on all tax dodgers as an urgent measure to rebalance public finances and stop the cuts.”
ENDS
Contacts
– PCS national press officer Richard Simcox: 020 7801 2747 or 07833
978216
– War on Want media office Paul Collins 020 7324 5054 or 07983 550728
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