MSP drives forward tax justice campaign

Published on 06/10/2012 12:00

A CITY MSP took the opportunity to get on board with a Christian Aid campaign against worldwide tax avoidance.

Gordon Macdonald, who represents the Edinburgh Pentlands constituency, greeted the charity’s double-decker tax justice bus when its nationwide tour reached the Scottish Parliament this week. The SNP MSP put his name to the campaign and has invited his 
constituents to join the fight.

Mr Macdonald said: “There is a global tax avoidance industry that incorporates banks, accountancy firms and corporate lawyers whose whole focus is corporate tax avoidance. Recent estimates have identified that substantial sums are being hidden in tax havens.

“If international companies paid a fair share of their revenue in tax in the countries they operate, would we need as much international aid and would there be cuts in the UK welfare benefit system?”