Radiohead singer against British government’s tax dodging scandal

This video from Britain says about itself:

The UK Gold OFFICIAL TRAILER

14 August 2013

Cinematic trailer for “The UK Gold” – an award winning, controversial new feature documentary exploring the systemic role of the City of London and the British state in global tax avoidance. Narrated by Dominic West, scored by Thom Yorke (Radiohead) & 3D (Massive Attack), also featuring Guy Garvey.

By Joana Ramiro in Britain:

Radiohead frontman slams coalition on City hypocrisy

Thursday 26th February 2015

RADIOHEAD frontman Thom Yorke condemned the coalition yesterday for conniving with corporate tax dodgers while stripping resources from the poor.

The acclaimed musician called out ministers as he launched the soundtrack for documentary UK Gold, which exposes City tax avoidance.

Mr Yorke recorded 12 new protest songs for the soundtrack in collaboration with other left-wing songwriters, such as Massive Attack’s vocalist 3D and Elbow’s Guy Garvey.

Speaking on campaigning anti-tax avoidance website ukuncut.org.uk, he said: “Now is the time to reveal the revolving doors between government and the City that has bred lies and corruption for so long, siphoning money through our tax havens for the global super-rich, while now preaching that we the people must pay our taxes and suffer austerity.”

“Just who does our government work for?”

UK Gold premiered last night — less than a fortnight after HSBC was exposed for aiding some of its wealthiest clients avoid tax through its private subsidiary in Switzerland.

The programme argues that public-sector cuts are an “ideological policy” rather than a necessity.

UKUncut spokeswoman Charice O’Brien said the documentary was “a great opportunity to call out the corporate theft which goes unchallenged every day.”

“While private companies and individuals are dodging billions of pounds each year through loopholes and offshore accounts, the public is being made to pay the price of austerity, through cuts to our public services,” she added.

UKUncut estimates that around £19 billion slip through the HMRC’s fingers every year due to corporate tax evasion.

The group said it was “excited” about having the backing of well-known musicians and film-makers in the fight against austerity.

“Through creative direct action we can highlight the hypocrisy of the government’s austerity, and force them to stand up to corporate tax thieves,” added Ms O’Brien.

Earlier this week actors Greg Wise and Emma Thompson said they would not be paying taxes this year in protest at the government’s failure to tackle tax avoidance.

UKUncut will be holding a national day of action against austerity measures and tax dodging corporations on March 21.

THERE could hardly be a more poignant vignette of Britain today than the hidden truths revealed by the HSBC Swiss bank. Five years after this colossal tax evasion and avoidance scam was known to the British authorities, there has been one prosecution: here.

UK tax policy dictated by companies not ministers says leading treasury expert. Adviser on ‘Google tax’ says international competition and offshore tax arrangements lead government to provide policies attractive to corporations: here.