Campaigners call for tax justice

Buy photos » Peter Luff joined campaigners to talk about tax dodging. (s)

CAMPAIGNERS were joined by religious leaders and Evesham's MP Peter Luff as they turned out in force in the town to demand tax justice.

Everyone was challenged to 'tick for tax justice' in support of the Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty call for tax transparency to tackle tax dodging.

Earlier on Mr Luff and campaign supporters gathered in Word of Mouth cafe to listen to a diverse range of speakers before being questioned about the call for action.

Rev David Haslam organised the meeting and said the fact it was standing room only showed the importance of the topic and the timeliness of the call to action.

"It was most gratifying to have a packed audience of folk from Evesham and other local towns and villages to engage with this most important topic," he said.

"Everyone said how inspiring were the speakers, our MP Peter Luff was also drawn into active debate. If we are to have a fairer society and a fairer world, tax justice is essential and the campaign will continue, in Evesham and beyond."

Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty want the system to be changed and have been urging David Cameron to use his global leadership to end financial secrecy, so tax dodgers have nowhere to hide.

The charities also want people to 'Tick for tax Justice' by signing a petition that calls on the Prime Minister to push for measures that would require companies to report on the profits they make and taxes they pay in every country in which they operate and tax havens to automatically share information about the money flowing through them with other countries.

Niall Cooper, from Church Action on Poverty, added: "At a time when spending cuts are having a devastating impact on the UK's poorest people and communities, tax dodging is morally unacceptable. It amounts to robbing the poor. If the Government just collected the £35 billion of tax they know is going uncollected, they could invest properly in tackling UK poverty."

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