The Missing Billions: Press coverage

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The TUC's report 'The Missing Billions: The UK Tax Gap' has already got good press coverage.

The FT has given it prominent coverage and appropriately leads by saying that the Trades Union Congress said its proposals would tackle "the growing gap between the super-rich and the rest of society". Brendan Barber, general secretary, said: "This is not the politics of envy but the economics of fairness." He's right.

The Independent gave the story good coverage, and quotes the CBI saying:

Businesses paid £130bn in tax last year and have seen this bill rise sharply since 2003 to help pay for public services.

Which is untrue. The paid less than £50 billion on corporation tax last year, and as my data shows, their tax rate has fallen heavily from 2000 to 2006. The CBI should note that paying more is a sign of prosperity. Avoiding what is due remains thoroughly anti-social.

The Guardian gives less coverage, but Polly Toynbee provided an excellent comment piece. That's fair.

The Times also gave it a good shot. They got an additional bit form the CBI which said:

Legitimate tax planning - undertaken by companies that operate globally - should not be confused with so-called tax avoidance

I'm not making that mistake. Tax not paid is not planning, it's tax avoided. The evidence is clear. It's the CBI who now has to justify to the public and smaller business why their largest members are the only people enjoying tax cuts right now.

So what of the rest? The Mail were going to run it, but having a go at HMRC's web site distracted them. As for the Telegraph, they spent ages on the story and what did they run. A story on what to do if you are non-domiciled. You can tell whose side they're on.


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