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<br>Dear friends across the UK,<br><br>Our tax chief had secret lunches with Vodafone and Goldman Sachs and then handed them billions in tax breaks – while keeping Parliament in the dark!<br><br>MPs are outraged, claiming we are owed over 25 billion pounds in back taxes from these and similar dodgy deals. But the tax agency has blocked an inquiry into the scandal and refuses to release any documents to shed light on why these tax breaks were ordered in the first place.<br><br>By acting together now we can ensure full transparency on the Goldman Sachs and
Vodafone deals, and get them to pay the tax they owe. Let’s turn up the heat -- sign the petition to David Cameron for tax justice -- we’ll deliver it with a splash next week:<br><br><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/goldman_sachs_pay_your_tax/?tta" target="_blank">http://www.avaaz.org/en/goldman_sachs_pay_your_tax/?tta</a><br><br>The cosy relationship between the public tax authority and major private companies is shocking: the tax agency boss had more than a hundred lunches with big business tax lawyers and advisers, leading to the companies being let off millions in taxes. The agency tried to obstruct a recent Parliamentary inquiry using flimsy confidentiality arguments, and threatened the whistleblower who helped expose the scandal.<br><br>The coalition is weak and on the defensive over the economy and several Conservative and Lib Dem MPs are fuming over these tax revelations. But the government has yet to demand full payment. Only public pressure can change Cameron's position and
ensure that big business stop manoeuvring and lobbying to minimise their tax bills, and pay what they owe.<br><br>We should be able to trust our public tax body to be free of corporate capture and able to recover taxes owed without fear or favour. Join the call for tax justice -- click below to sign the petition:<br><br><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/goldman_sachs_pay_your_tax/?tta" target="_blank">http://www.avaaz.org/en/goldman_sachs_pay_your_tax/?tta</a><br><br>From Occupy to the G20, citizens across the world are coming together to push back corporate interests, fight against dodgy deals corrupting our governments and bring back transparency -- and the pressure is working. Let's come together now and win tax justice for us all.<br><br>With hope,<br><br>More information:<br><br>MPs attack HMRC’s ‘cosy’ deals with big business (BBC)<br><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16253205" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16253205</a><br><br>MPs say taxman "too cosy" with
companies (Reuters)<br><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/uk-britain-taxes-idUKTRE7BJ03S20111220" target="_blank">http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/uk-britain-taxes-idUKTRE7BJ03S20111220</a><br><br>The end of all take and no give (New Statesman)<br><a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/12/tax-returns-public-firms" target="_blank">http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/12/tax-returns-public-firms</a><br><br>HMRC hid 'sweetheart' tax deals for big business, MPs say<br><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/20/inland-revenue-sweetheart-tax-deals" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/dec/20/inland-revenue-sweetheart-tax-deals</a><br><br>Tax avoidance must become taboo (The Guardian)<br><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/dec/21/tax-avoidance-must-become-taboo?newsfeed=true" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/dec/21/tax-avoidance-must-become-taboo?newsfeed=true</a><br><br><hr><br><font color="#404040" size="-2"><br><b><br>Avaaz.org is a 10-million-person global campaign network</b> that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights.php/?footer" target="_blank">here</a>, or follow us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Avaaz" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/Avaaz" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br> <br>This message was sent to <a href="mailto:davidkirkham@live.co.uk">davidkirkham@live.co.uk</a>. To change your email address, language, or other information, <a href="http://avaaz.org/en/contact/?footer" target="_blank">contact us via this form</a>. To unsubscribe, send an email to unsubscribe@avaaz.org or <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/act/?r=unsub&email=davidkirkham%40live.co.uk&lang=en&cid=1951" target="_blank">click here</a>.To contact Avaaz, please <b>do not reply to this email.</b> Instead, write to us at <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact?footer" target="_blank">www.avaaz.org/en/contact</a> or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).<img border="0" src="http://open.avaaz.org/act/open/tta_1318c10034636edf872f56f7ad971279.gif"></font><BR><font color="#404040" size="-2"></font> </div></body>
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