The Irony Of Sir Philip Green

Rather ironic that billionaire boss Sir Philip Green has been telling the Con-Dem coalition that he could save the government £20b. The capitalist businessman is no stranger to cutting corners, especially where taxes are concerned. Rather conveniently, his wife Tina relocated to Monaco and so avoids paying any tax in Britain. The Top Shop boss transferred virtually all his assets to his wife  - meaning she would have paid £285m in taxes had she remained in the UK.

If the Green's had not exploited the system, Britain could have put the £285 million too good use for the country. Instead Philip Green has the cheek to lecture us about where he could save taxpayers money. Another prime example where this government has the wrong priorities. Instead of punishing hard working public sector workers, the government should be getting the taxes that belong to them. As the PCS have shown, £25 billion is lost annually in tax avoidance and a further £70 billion in tax evasion by large companies and wealthy individuals (like the Greens!!).


The PCS document 'There Is An Alternative' also highlights that an additional £26 billion is going uncollected. Therefore PCS estimates the total annual tax gap at over £120 billion (more than three-quarters of the annual deficit!). It is not just PCS calculating this; leaked Treasury documents in 2006 estimated the tax gap at between £97 and £150 billion.