I was invited to a reception at the House of Lords this evening:
I have to say that such an invitation is, in itself, not unusual; I do hang around Westminster quite a lot.
But I do admit I was pleased and honoured to be presented with the Economic Campaigner of the Year award by the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
I have no idea who nominated me, or who chose me, but thanks anyway. In the campaigning world this is a bit like getting an Oscar.
This is, approximately, what I said when accepting the award, having offered my thanks:
I am, to some extent, an accidental campaigner. From senior partner of a firm of chartered accountants to this evening is not an obvious career progression. But, when twelve or so years ago John Christensen and I decided to campaign on tax, which no one had done before, we had to work out how to make tax sexy. We decided the way to do it was to put large companies using tax havens on the front page of newspapers. Short of funding us we have had some amazing corporate partners in our work. Google, Amazon, Starbucks, and now HSBC, could not have done much more than they have to help promote our campaign.
But the work needs to go on. If the UK tax gap is £120 billion a year, as I think it is, and less than £15 billion of that relates to tax havens and large company tax avoidance then there are a massive range of other abuses we still need to highlight and address. And think what could be achieved if we did collect that money. We would not face the austerity so many other campaigners here tonight are struggling with.
The key word there is 'think'. We have had amazing campaign partners - ActionAid, Christian Aid, Oxfam, 38 Degrees and others - but my job and that of some others is to spend time working on the detailed demands that in the end translate into mass campaigns. I have been lucky to be funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and others but if I can make a quiet plea to funders it is to remember how important it is to support people who need to look out of the window and dream that a better world is possible.
This campaign has not been won yet. There is still so much to do. I have promised my wife I might retire one day. I do not think she believes me.
Thank you.
And let me also note that in practical terms the award means I get to do a bit of support for the Sheila McKechnie Foundation's work, which I will be pleased to do.
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Many congratulations. Richly deserved. You are a beacon of hope in the contemporary darkness.
Thanks
Congratulations Richard and thoroughly deserved given all the crap you’ve taken since 2006.
Crap?
Really?
I’ve never noticed! 🙂
And thanks
Many congratulations Richard, thoroughly deserved.
Keep up the good work
Brilliant! Congratulations
Thats one in the eye for all the neolibaral’s and torie’s. Keep it up.
Well done indeed 🙂 At least it shows some people take notice.
Well done, Richard. Iechydd da I chi.
Thanks
What a wonderful start to the day! Congratulations and thoroughly well deserved.
Thanks Prem
You have quite a lot to do with it
Without you I would not have met John
And you’ve been outstanding too
Well done Richard, thoroughly deserved
There can’t be many people out there who deserve such an award more than you, Richard, so this is excellent news. Onwards and upwards! Cheers.
Thanks
hear, hear!
To allude to my review of the Courageous State. it’s good to see a Roundhead back in Parliament. Without them in the 17th Century, we would not have made the early advances in human rights which this country can take some pride in.
Many congratluations Richard!
You seem to have endless energy and enthusiasm to tackle these issues, Richard. When your efforts are acknowledged at this level you and we know you must be succeeding.
Congratulation!
John
Congratulations Richard. And well deserved.
Many congratulations. Well deserved. Keep it up.
Wonderful news, Richard, but I hope you’re remembering to take care of yourself. Are you doing your cardiovascular and yogic breathing exercises?;o)
No…..
Your doctor WILL know!
Well done. Love the “corporate partners”:)
For made up on the spur of the moment I was quite pleased with that
Absolutely excellent news! Well done Richard – and well done to the Sheila McKechnie Foundation.
Congratulations, very happy you bagged the prize, keep it up!!!
Thanks
Steaming on
Please don’t retire !
I have no idea what I would do
I’m late reading the blog today and everyone else has stolen what I would have said if I’d read it this morning!
Fantastic news, bloody well done and, as ever, keep on steaming on (with apologes to your wife!).
She’s long gor used to a man who gets up to blog vey early
Thanks Nick
You are simply preaching to your own left wing audience on here Richard, and all of the other assorted socialists and sycophants who want to “take from the rich and give it to the poor or work shy.” Before you get too carried away and your pride gets too big, bear in mind that the vast majority of the UK population see little or no merit in a bigger state, higher taxation, assisting Tax Collectors, and whatever else it is you are trying to do. Regards.
Brian
I was going spring to a spirited defence of the supposedly ‘left wing audience’ and Richard’s so called ‘pride’ but you know what………………I couldn’t be bothered to waste my time on you – you’re too damaged.
Poor you.
Brilliant and lovely to see one of the good guys rewarded (for once). Well done.
Thanks
Congratulations Richard. Throughly well deserved.