McDonald's: One down

It’s working! Moments after launching the petition calling on companies like McDonald’s to give up their Olympic tax breaks, their rattled PR team were on the phone. [1] Minutes later they publicly confirmed they wouldn’t be taking up the tax dodge. [2]

If you didn’t sign the petition because you weren’t sure it would work, now you know it can. It’s an exciting start. But there are lots of other sponsors who still haven’t budged. Let’s turn up the pressure by keeping the petition growing. Every name helps.

Can you sign the petition now and tell the other sponsors to pay their fair share?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/olympic-tax-dodging

Next in our sights is Coca-Cola. They’ll be supersizing their profits at the Olympics, expecting to sell 23 million drinks. [3] Together let’s make sure that they’re paying their fair share in tax. Their close relationship with McDonald’s will make dodging the issue even harder for them now.

The petition’s already got nearly 100,000 names. If you can help push it past that target we’ll organise a high profile hand-in to Coke’s London headquarters and a simultaneous people-powered flood of messages to them via Facebook and Twitter. Together, we’ll make a splash they can’t ignore!

38 Degrees members have been campaigning against tax dodging because things get cut when businesses don’t pay their fair share. The Olympics is a powerful global symbol. Taking on this particular tax dodge won’t fix the whole problem but it’ll send a strong message that we expect these massive multinationals to do the right thing.

If we can get to 100,000 signatures, we’ll organise a hand-in at Coke’s London headquarters this Friday. Click below to add your name now: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/olympic-tax-dodging


Thanks for being involved,

David T, Robin, Belinda and the 38 Degrees team


PS: The secretive nature of these companies’ tax arrangements makes it difficult to figure out exactly how much this Olympic tax dodge is worth. Let’s use people power to shine a light on what they’re up to. Can you call on Coca-Cola to front up? Sign the petition here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/olympic-tax-dodging


NOTES
[1] Ethical Consumer: The Great Olympic Tax Swindle http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/commentanalysis/corporatewatch/thegreatolympictaxswindle.aspx
[2] McDonald’s: Olympic Tax Exemption Clarification http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/Aboutus/Newsroom/news_pages/Olympic_Tax_Exemption.html
[3] Coca-Cola: What does Coca-Cola’s sponsorship bring to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games?
http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/faq/olympic-games/what-does-coca-cola-sponsorship-bring-to-london-2012.html

Jimmy Carr?

If David Cameron thinks Jimmy Carr's tax dodge was morally wrong, why isn't he using his powers as prime minister to stop this kind of thing happening? New, tough, anti-avoidance laws could save the UK millions in lost tax. Let's use this latest scandal to push Cameron to act.

A big petition, signed by thousands of us, will prove that the public demands a real clampdown on tax dodging. At the moment Cameron seems to hope that a few soundbites on TV will be enough to make the fuss die down. We need to make him realise he'll lose votes if he fails to act.

Please take 30 seconds to add your name to the petition demanding a strong tax-dodging law:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ban-tax-dodging

Tax-dodging costs the rest of us billions of pounds - money that could be spent on hospitals, schools, policemen. But whilst David Cameron talks tough, the truth is he could be doing much more to stop it. Leading tax experts say what we really need is a legally enshrined “general anti-avoidance principle” - giving courts tough new powers to force dodgers to pay up. [1]

Over the past year, 38 Degrees members, together with groups like UK Uncut, have helped shine a light on the scandal of tax-dodging. [2] Actions like our hard-hitting adverts depicting George Osborne as the artful dodger helped make the government realise they can no longer stay silent. Even more public pressure could push them to launch a real crackdown.

David Cameron could do more to stop tax-dodging. But he'll only do that if we put him under enough pressure. So please add your name to the petition today:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ban-tax-dodging


Thanks for being involved,

Marie, David T, Hannah, James, David, Cian, Becky, Belinda and the 38 Degrees team


PS: Here’s what Sarah Hurley, a 38 Degrees member said on Facebook: “Carr only did what a lot of people would do, and probably just followed his accountant's advice. If Cameron thinks tax-dodging is so wrong he needs to close the loop-hole, then have a good look at multi-national companies who fail to pay a lot more tax than one TV comedian.” If you agree, add your name: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ban-tax-dodging


NOTES
[1] Tax Justice Network is a global alliance of economists, tax and financial professionals, accountants, lawyers, academics and writers who work to analyse and explain the role of harmful impacts of tax evasion and tax avoidance. They support a broad-based general anti-avoidance principle to tackle tax evasion in the UK - as opposed to the narrowly focused rule proposed by the government. http://www.taxjustice.net/cms/front_content.php?idcat=2

[2] Telegraph: Budget 2011 - “Jammy tax dodgers” protest in Whitehall http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/budget/8400804/Budget-2011-Jammy-tax-dodgers-protest-in-Whitehall.html
Guardian: UK Uncut allowed to challenge Goldman Sachs tax deal http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/14/uk-uncut-challenge-goldman-sachs-tax-court
38 Degrees blog: Tax Dodging - Hand-in to HMRC http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2012/04/05/tax-dodging-hand-in-to-hmrc/