Press release: Starbucks' ‘hollow promises’ won’t stop public outrage
Posted on Thu 6th Dec 2012, 1:51pm07415 063231 | 07572 594128
Responding to Starbucks’ announcement today that it will not claim tax deductions in the UK on a range of its tax arrangements, Hannah Pearce, a UK Uncut spokesperson said:
“Offering to pay some tax if and when it suits you doesn’t stop you being a tax dodger. Starbucks have been avoiding tax for over a decade and continue to deny that it paid too little tax in the past. Today’s announcement is just a desperate attempt to deflect public pressure. There’s no money yet, and hollow promises on press releases don’t fund women’s refuges or child benefits."
"We need to keep up the pressure to get the government to force Starbucks and every other tax dodging company to pay their fair share, instead of cutting welfare and tax credits for single mums and disabled women. This weekend 40 actions will take place in Starbucks stores in towns and cities across the country. People will be transforming Starbucks stores into refuges, crèches and other services which the government are cutting with their unjust and unnecessary austerity plans.”
“The £10 million that Starbucks have estimated they may end up paying is £5 million less than that paid by their nearest competitor Costa coffee. The announcement today will also still see Starbucks paying royalty fees to a subsidiary in the Netherlands where the company has a secret low rate tax deal, and buying coffee beans through the well known tax haven of Switzerland, even though coffee grows in the tropics not the Alps.”
Responding to Starbucks’ announcement today that it will not claim tax deductions in the UK on a range of its tax arrangements, Hannah Pearce, a UK Uncut spokesperson said:
“Offering to pay some tax if and when it suits you doesn’t stop you being a tax dodger. Starbucks have been avoiding tax for over a decade and continue to deny that it paid too little tax in the past. Today’s announcement is just a desperate attempt to deflect public pressure. There’s no money yet, and hollow promises on press releases don’t fund women’s refuges or child benefits."
"We need to keep up the pressure to get the government to force Starbucks and every other tax dodging company to pay their fair share, instead of cutting welfare and tax credits for single mums and disabled women. This weekend 40 actions will take place in Starbucks stores in towns and cities across the country. People will be transforming Starbucks stores into refuges, crèches and other services which the government are cutting with their unjust and unnecessary austerity plans.”
“The £10 million that Starbucks have estimated they may end up paying is £5 million less than that paid by their nearest competitor Costa coffee. The announcement today will also still see Starbucks paying royalty fees to a subsidiary in the Netherlands where the company has a secret low rate tax deal, and buying coffee beans through the well known tax haven of Switzerland, even though coffee grows in the tropics not the Alps.”
UK Uncut's Alternative Autumn Statement
Posted on Wed 5th Dec 2012, 12:40pmby Leila Curtis, UK Uncut supporter
An estimated £25 billion is lost annually through tax dodging, showing that this country isn’t running out of money, it’s just that the richest and most powerful individuals and corporations are not paying their fair share. The UK isn’t broke- what is broken is when a political system claims to promote the ‘big society’ while the only things getting bigger and bigger are unemployment, inequality and anger.
Public anger continues to increase as more people become aware of the many tax avoidance schemes of the rich and mighty. The poor paying their taxes, the rich- like Starbucks- none at all, is clearly completely unjust. Yet George Osborne does not have the authority to label tax avoidance as immoral because the government has directly benefited from, encouraged and rewarded those who avoid tax.
While Osborne prepares to damage more people’s lives by making more cuts in his budget statement today- using the deficit as an excuse to cut welfare and punish the poor- we are preparing to fight back with our National Day of Action this Saturday. So far 37 actions are happening all over the UK from Aberdeen to Truro.
This Saturday women, men and children will be transforming local Starbucks into the women’s services we refuse to lose to highlight there are alternatives to these unnecessary and unjust cuts.
The government must now close the loopholes that Starbucks and other companies use to avoid paying billions in tax to the UK, instead of targeting single mums and disabled people through slashing public services, the welfare state and privatising the NHS. We don’t need cosmetic changes, or promises of months of talking – Osborne needs to take urgent action to tackle widespread tax avoidance by some of the biggest companies in the UK.
New research published this week has shown that this government, by itself, could recover up to £5.5bn each year through introducing a General Anti-Avoidance Principle. It could legislate to force companies to show that the things they're doing to try to lower their tax bills do have some basis in the real world, which could be pretty hard if you’re claiming your coffee beans come from Switzerland like Starbucks do.
This is just a start- the UK should act to tackle its own enormous network of tax havens like Jersey and the Cayman Islands, invest massively in jobs at HMRC and push for a proper overhaul of the international tax system, not just tweaking around the edges.
An estimated £25 billion is lost annually through tax dodging, showing that this country isn’t running out of money, it’s just that the richest and most powerful individuals and corporations are not paying their fair share. The UK isn’t broke- what is broken is when a political system claims to promote the ‘big society’ while the only things getting bigger and bigger are unemployment, inequality and anger.
Public anger continues to increase as more people become aware of the many tax avoidance schemes of the rich and mighty. The poor paying their taxes, the rich- like Starbucks- none at all, is clearly completely unjust. Yet George Osborne does not have the authority to label tax avoidance as immoral because the government has directly benefited from, encouraged and rewarded those who avoid tax.
While Osborne prepares to damage more people’s lives by making more cuts in his budget statement today- using the deficit as an excuse to cut welfare and punish the poor- we are preparing to fight back with our National Day of Action this Saturday. So far 37 actions are happening all over the UK from Aberdeen to Truro.
This Saturday women, men and children will be transforming local Starbucks into the women’s services we refuse to lose to highlight there are alternatives to these unnecessary and unjust cuts.
The government must now close the loopholes that Starbucks and other companies use to avoid paying billions in tax to the UK, instead of targeting single mums and disabled people through slashing public services, the welfare state and privatising the NHS. We don’t need cosmetic changes, or promises of months of talking – Osborne needs to take urgent action to tackle widespread tax avoidance by some of the biggest companies in the UK.
New research published this week has shown that this government, by itself, could recover up to £5.5bn each year through introducing a General Anti-Avoidance Principle. It could legislate to force companies to show that the things they're doing to try to lower their tax bills do have some basis in the real world, which could be pretty hard if you’re claiming your coffee beans come from Switzerland like Starbucks do.
This is just a start- the UK should act to tackle its own enormous network of tax havens like Jersey and the Cayman Islands, invest massively in jobs at HMRC and push for a proper overhaul of the international tax system, not just tweaking around the edges.
Accessibility info for UK Uncut’s ‘Refuge From The Cuts’ action
Posted on Sun 2nd Dec 2012, 4:02pmAccessibility info for UK Uncut’s ‘Refuge From The Cuts’ action at Starbucks across the UK, Saturday 8th December!
Greetings Uncutters!
We’re asking everybody who’s organising an action on Saturday 8th to make it as inclusive as possible, and publicise information about accessibility.
For example, you could post on your Facebook action page whether the Starbucks has step-free access, and if public transport to the location is accessible.
You could also link up with local disability activists who could help advise on making the action more inclusive (and maybe come on the action too!).
If you’re planning to attend an action and would like information about accessibility, you can get in touch with the organisers – there’s a contact email address at the bottom of each action page - see here for the list.
Accessibility for the central London actions
In central London there are two actions happening close together. Both are just off Regent St - click here for info.
The nearest step-free tube station is Green Park, which is a 10 minute push/wheel away.
Action 1 (‘Cuts Creche’) Starbucks has step-free access (map). This action starts at 11.30am and is due to end at 2pm. Bring your children! There’s a specified end time to reassure people who might be new to taking action.
Action 2 (‘Refuge From The Cuts’). Like a lot of the Starbucks in Central London, this store unfortunately does not have step-free access (map). But there’ll be plenty of action and entertainments happening outside – including hopefully a Samba band!!
Contact: ukuncut@gmail.com
Islington actions and Disabled People Against Cuts
Islington Disabled People Against Cuts (IDPAC) are delighted to be supporting the actions in Islington. Cuts to women’s services and housing issues affect many of us as women and tenants. There is no justification for any cuts. Multinational giants like Starbucks should pay their fair share of taxes, properly resourced public services should be available for all.
We are encouraging all disabled people locally to turn out and show your rejection of all cuts.
IDPAC members will be at:
Starbucks, 7 Islington High Street @ 12 noon
Action details are here.
Turn Starbucks into a rape crisis centre. Share any information, resources or knowledge about support you have with others.
Starbucks, 30 Upper St @ 2pm
Action details are here.
Make this coffee-house a home, resist cuts to housing benefits, the bedroom tax, rack-rents and call for more accessible housing.
Both Starbucks are step free.
Nearest step free station to both actions:
Kings Cross station. Circle; Hammersmith & City; Metropolitan; Northern; Piccadilly; Victoria lines.
Then take the eastbound 205 bus from outside the station to Angel (less than 10 mins).
Buses 19, 30, 43, 56, 153, 274 also serve this area.
Accessible toilets are within 5 mins of both actions.
Contact: islington.dpac@gmail.com
Greetings Uncutters!
We’re asking everybody who’s organising an action on Saturday 8th to make it as inclusive as possible, and publicise information about accessibility.
For example, you could post on your Facebook action page whether the Starbucks has step-free access, and if public transport to the location is accessible.
You could also link up with local disability activists who could help advise on making the action more inclusive (and maybe come on the action too!).
If you’re planning to attend an action and would like information about accessibility, you can get in touch with the organisers – there’s a contact email address at the bottom of each action page - see here for the list.
Accessibility for the central London actions
In central London there are two actions happening close together. Both are just off Regent St - click here for info.
The nearest step-free tube station is Green Park, which is a 10 minute push/wheel away.
Action 1 (‘Cuts Creche’) Starbucks has step-free access (map). This action starts at 11.30am and is due to end at 2pm. Bring your children! There’s a specified end time to reassure people who might be new to taking action.
Action 2 (‘Refuge From The Cuts’). Like a lot of the Starbucks in Central London, this store unfortunately does not have step-free access (map). But there’ll be plenty of action and entertainments happening outside – including hopefully a Samba band!!
Contact: ukuncut@gmail.com
Islington actions and Disabled People Against Cuts
Islington Disabled People Against Cuts (IDPAC) are delighted to be supporting the actions in Islington. Cuts to women’s services and housing issues affect many of us as women and tenants. There is no justification for any cuts. Multinational giants like Starbucks should pay their fair share of taxes, properly resourced public services should be available for all.
We are encouraging all disabled people locally to turn out and show your rejection of all cuts.
IDPAC members will be at:
Starbucks, 7 Islington High Street @ 12 noon
Action details are here.
Turn Starbucks into a rape crisis centre. Share any information, resources or knowledge about support you have with others.
Starbucks, 30 Upper St @ 2pm
Action details are here.
Make this coffee-house a home, resist cuts to housing benefits, the bedroom tax, rack-rents and call for more accessible housing.
Both Starbucks are step free.
Nearest step free station to both actions:
Kings Cross station. Circle; Hammersmith & City; Metropolitan; Northern; Piccadilly; Victoria lines.
Then take the eastbound 205 bus from outside the station to Angel (less than 10 mins).
Buses 19, 30, 43, 56, 153, 274 also serve this area.
Accessible toilets are within 5 mins of both actions.
Contact: islington.dpac@gmail.com