6th Apr 2008

Green Party sets up "tax haven" in York

York Greens set up their own "tax haven" in a York bar, complete with fat cat, to highlight Government hypocrisy in hiking taxes for the poor whilst the super-rich pay almost nothing.

With the start of the new tax year on April 6th, the government has scrapped the 10% band on the first £2,230 of taxable income and upped the rate to 20%. People earning less than £19,000 could be up to £200 worse off over the course of the next year, unless they can claim tax credits to make up the difference. A recent TUC report estimated that the total loss to the Treasury every year from legal tax avoidance schemes is nearly £25bn. Ironically, because of the "non-domicile" rule, which allows some of the wealthiest people in Britain to avoid tax on money earned abroad, the UK itself is also considered a tax haven.

The cost of the "non-domiciles" rule is around £4.5bn each year, only slightly less than the annual cost of reintroducing the 10% starting rate.

Andy Chase, the Green Parliamentary Candidate for York Central, said: "The Greens are calling on the government to reverse this cynical tax grab from the low paid, and immediately reinstate the 10% tax band. This should be paid for by abolishing the non-domicile rule forthwith."

Pictured: Ian Pitman (right) enjoys a Martini served by Andy Chase in the Green Party "tax haven"