UKUncut – Keep up the good work (Observer)

By Russell Pollard on January 2, 2011 • ( 1 )

Protestor outside one of Sir Philip Green's flagship stores on Oxford Street.

Andrew Clark’s Comment column in today’s Observer- Business highlighted:

“…a few suggestions to the movers and shakers in the business world for new years resolutions to make 2011 a little happier, more harmonious and more prosperous”

One of those being UK Uncut:

“Keep up the good work. Your non-violent protests outside high-street chains have shoved tax avoidance on to the political agenda. Sir Philip Green is under pressure to explain why TopShop is registered in the name of his wife, Cristina, who is a tax resident in Monte Carlo. Boots is struggling to justify its domicile in an obscure canton of Switzerland. UK Uncut’s adoption of David Cameron-style language is a masterstroke – the group’s members call themselves “Big Society Revenue and Customs”. The business world is facing a long overdue question – aren’t elaborate tax-avoidance gymnastics just as morally repugnant as tax evasion?”

The bitter taste of convoluted financial schemes with the commoditisation of sub-prime mortgages which got us into this terrible mess, are still at the forefront of everyone’s minds. This together with flipping and fiddling of MP’s expenses, and intricate tax-avoidance mechanisms are becoming more and more unacceptable.

So..

Congratulations to the organisers of this innovative and effective direct action organisation – to have reached such an audience and tweeked a nerve so quickly, and pointedly is very impressive.

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