Medway Liberal Democrats call on the council to sign up to Fair Tax Declaration

Medway Liberal Democrats are calling on Medway Council take a lead on tax avoidance and promote companies and organisations that pay their fair share of tax.

We are calling on the Council to sign up to the Fair Tax Declaration - which calls on Councils to lead by example in their own tax conduct, demand greater transparency from suppliers and consider the tax-record of any company they buy goods and services from.

John Castle, Chair of Medway Liberal Democrats, believes the Council has a duty to deal with companies that pay their fair share of tax; "Billions of pounds each year are lost to tax-avoidance and profit-sharing schemes. Yet billions of pounds of public money continue to be given to contracts with companies linked to tax havens."

"People across Medway pay their fair share of tax, as do hundreds of local businesses. They quite rightly expect big businesses and corporations to do the same."

"Corporate tax funds our essential services such as schools, hospitals, roads, policing and social care. Every pound not paid has to be picked up by regular tax payers."

"The Council must play its part to tackle tax avoidance. Councils receive and spend a great deal of public money. Much of it is spent on buying goods and services from private companies. We must make sure these companies pay their fair share of tax."

"Signing up to the Fair Tax Declaration will commit us to do that."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

More information on the Fair Tax Declaration, and the Fair Tax Foundation, can be found here