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David Cameron told to stop moralising to multinationals over tax David Cameron told to stop moralising to multinationals over tax
(4 months later)
The president of the CBI is delivering a firm message from some of Britain's largest employers to David Cameron, calling on him to stop "moralising" on how multinational corporations should be taxed.The president of the CBI is delivering a firm message from some of Britain's largest employers to David Cameron, calling on him to stop "moralising" on how multinational corporations should be taxed.
Roger Carr, flanked by some of the country's most powerful global business leaders, trooped into Downing Street on Monday for a 3pm meeting of the prime minister's business advisory group. Around the table were chief executives of the UK multinationals Burberry, Tesco, Vodafone, BAE Systems, Prudential and GSK. Also present was Google's chairman, Eric Schmidt, despite the search firm coming under fierce attack from MPs last week over its tax arrangements.Roger Carr, flanked by some of the country's most powerful global business leaders, trooped into Downing Street on Monday for a 3pm meeting of the prime minister's business advisory group. Around the table were chief executives of the UK multinationals Burberry, Tesco, Vodafone, BAE Systems, Prudential and GSK. Also present was Google's chairman, Eric Schmidt, despite the search firm coming under fierce attack from MPs last week over its tax arrangements.
Business leaders were keen to outline their views to the prime minister before the G8 meeting in Northern Ireland next month, during which David Cameron has pledged to use Britain's presidency to tackle "aggressive tax avoidance" by multinational firms.Business leaders were keen to outline their views to the prime minister before the G8 meeting in Northern Ireland next month, during which David Cameron has pledged to use Britain's presidency to tackle "aggressive tax avoidance" by multinational firms.
A hint as to the robust tone business leaders were likely to take with the prime minister came in a speech Carr gave earlier in the day at an Oxford Business School event in London.A hint as to the robust tone business leaders were likely to take with the prime minister came in a speech Carr gave earlier in the day at an Oxford Business School event in London.
"It is only in recent times that tax has become an issue on the public agenda – Starbucks, Google, Amazon – businesses that the general public know and believe they understand; businesses with a brand that become a perfect political football, the facts difficult to digest; public passions easy to inflame.""It is only in recent times that tax has become an issue on the public agenda – Starbucks, Google, Amazon – businesses that the general public know and believe they understand; businesses with a brand that become a perfect political football, the facts difficult to digest; public passions easy to inflame."
In what appeared to be pointed criticism of increasingly firm rhetoric from Cameron on multinational tax engineering, the CBI boss insisted tax avoidance "cannot be about morality – there are no absolutes".In what appeared to be pointed criticism of increasingly firm rhetoric from Cameron on multinational tax engineering, the CBI boss insisted tax avoidance "cannot be about morality – there are no absolutes".
In January the prime minister used a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos to put a marker down on questions of tax structuring by big business. "Some forms of avoidance have become so aggressive that I think it is right to say these are ethical issues," he said, urging multinationals to "wake up and smell the coffee".In January the prime minister used a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos to put a marker down on questions of tax structuring by big business. "Some forms of avoidance have become so aggressive that I think it is right to say these are ethical issues," he said, urging multinationals to "wake up and smell the coffee".
Carr told an audience at the London event: "Tax payments are not, and should not be … a payment viewed as a down payment on social acceptability, or a contribution made by choice in order to defuse public anger or political attack."Carr told an audience at the London event: "Tax payments are not, and should not be … a payment viewed as a down payment on social acceptability, or a contribution made by choice in order to defuse public anger or political attack."
The CBI boss, who is being talked of as a successor to Dick Olver as chairman of BAE Systems, invited the G8 to consider three things in relation to tax reform:The CBI boss, who is being talked of as a successor to Dick Olver as chairman of BAE Systems, invited the G8 to consider three things in relation to tax reform:
• to avoid the moral debate – "it's all about the rules"• to avoid the moral debate – "it's all about the rules"
• to fix the rules on an international stage, not unilaterally• to fix the rules on an international stage, not unilaterally
• to consult on proposed changes with business.• to consult on proposed changes with business.
Earlier in the day, asked whether Cameron was going to raise Google's tax affairs at his meeting with business leaders, a Downing Street spokesman said: "We don't talk about individuals or individual companies' tax affairs. What the PM will be doing at the meeting will be explaining the tax and tax transparency part of the G8 agenda which he has been discussing with other G8 leaders and he will discuss again at the European council."Earlier in the day, asked whether Cameron was going to raise Google's tax affairs at his meeting with business leaders, a Downing Street spokesman said: "We don't talk about individuals or individual companies' tax affairs. What the PM will be doing at the meeting will be explaining the tax and tax transparency part of the G8 agenda which he has been discussing with other G8 leaders and he will discuss again at the European council."
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