Labour Euro MPs back strong action on tax dodgers

LABOUR Euro MPs have voted for strong proposals to tackle tax dodgers, calling for action to stem the 1 trillion Euros (850 billion pounds) lost to public finances, due to tax fraud and avoidance.  Labour's Economic affairs spokeswoman, Arlene McCarthy MEP said:- "It is time to get tough on those intent on avoiding tax. To those big businesses who say stop the talk on tax avoidance we say stop trying to find ways around paying your fair share of tax. According to HMRC figures, in the UK alone £9billion is lost every year which could pay for the construction of more than 600 new schools or over 50 new hospitals or pay the annual salaries of over 330,000 Police Officers." In a European Parliament vote today Labour Euro MPs backed a range of proposals, including calls for, naming and shaming those sheltering tax evaders by creating a EU wide black list of tax havens, companies avoiding tax not to be awarded public contracts, more resources to be delivered to tax authorities to tackle tax dodgers and an end to aggressive tax planning by companies trying to avoid paying tax an obligation on companies to publish a single figure for the amount of tax paid in each EU country.  Conservative MEPs refused to back proposals to bring greater transparency to multinationals' tax affairs by requiring them to publish a single figure for the tax they pay in each country. This would help to shed light on the practice of companies using their international operations to avoid paying their fair share of tax such as the recent high profile cases involving Google, Amazon and Starbucks.   Labour's leader in the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott MEP, called on the British government to use tomorrow's (Wednesday) European summit to take international action to tackle tax avoidance and evasion:- "We call on David Cameron to match his words with tough action. The UK Government claims that tax avoidance is a key priority for their presidency of the G8 yet their lack of action shows it is all rhetoric. We've made it clear today that there are cross-border solutions that can be used to tackle companies that don't want to pay their fair share. Here's an issue on which international cooperation is essential, but with Cameron under pressure from his backbenchers, will he deliver anything but warm words?"  Arlene McCarthy MEP added:- "As for UKIP, Nigel Farage claims to be 'free thinking', but he is instead encouraging free loading by tax dodgers. Today he could have backed proposals to crack down on tax evaders and avoiders - but his colleagues voted against the proposals and he left before the end of the vote."

CCTV released after member of rail staff assaulted at Edge Hill

THE British Transport Police have released the CCTV image of man officers would like to speak to after a member of rail staff was assaulted at Edge Hill Rail Station. The incident happened at around 1.30pm on Saturday, 20 April 2013, after the member of staff challenged a woman who did not have a valid ticket for travel.  PC Shaun Lee said:- "The woman claimed her boyfriend would pay for her ticket and asked the member of staff to wait for her boyfriend to arrive. A few minutes later a man on a bike arrived at the station and, without slowing down, cycled directly into the booking office, colliding with the office door which struck the staff member in the face, cutting his lip. The man then became abusive, swearing at the victim stating he would not pay for the fare, before leaving the station with his girlfriend. The victim attempted to follow the pair out of the station, but the offender turned as if to attack and the victim ran back to the security of the office. Though the victim wasn't seriously injured this was nevertheless an extremely harrowing experience. We have carried out a number of enquiries and have isolated CCTV images of a man we believe is key to this investigation. It is now vital that we trace him as soon as possible." 

If you recognise the man, or have any information about the incident, please contact British Transport Police on:- 0800 40 50 40 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously on:- 0800 555 111. In all calls please quote log:- B5/NWA of 17/5/13.