Money alert: Amazon Christmas boycott

MPs are backing a boycott of Amazon this Christmas because of the internet giant's aggressive tax-avoidance policies.

Margaret Hodge, chair of the House of Commons public accounts select committee and one of eight MPs who are supporting the Amazon boycott, said: "It's important that we take a stand and damage the reputation and business of companies such as Amazon that deliberately avoid paying their fair share of tax to the common purse for the common good."

Other MPs supporting the campaign are Natascha Engel, Meg Hillier, John McDonnell, Michael Meacher, Austin Mitchell, Graham Morris and Dennis Skinner.

The campaign was launched last year by Ethical Consumer magazine. Editor Tim Hunt said: "Amazon is having a devastating impact on high streets across the UK as tax-paying businesses are unable to compete with it.

"We're calling for a boycott with the aim of making Amazon pay a fair rate of tax."