Crickhowell: Local Tory MP backs tax rebellion in 'offshore' Welsh town

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies says he is proud his constituents are raising awareness of tax injustices

(J A Scheppers)

A Tory MP has backed a rebellion of local businesses in his constituency who have copied the same offshore loopholes by global corporations to avoid paying tax.

The Independent revealed yesterday how independent traders in the Brecon Beacons town of Crickhowell are turning the tables on the likes of Google and Starbucks by employing tax experts to advise them on how they can exploit tax havens and create offshore subsidiaries in order to minimise their contribution to HMRC.

Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies backed the tax rebellion, telling The Independent that he was proud that his constituents were raising awareness of the injustice in the tax system.

“I want to see everyone pay their fair share of tax – from the man in the street to the largest multi-nationals,” he said.

“That is why I am proud that this Government will collect an additional £5 billion from tackling tax evasion, avoidance, planning and imbalances in the tax system by 2019/20.


 Chris Davies, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire

“The people of Crickhowell are right to highlight this issue and I am pleased to see The Independent recognising the wonderful independent shops and businesses in the town.”

However the offshore tax avoidance proposals face scrutiny by HMRC, who said they will “make sure the correct amount of tax is being paid”.

The rebellion was criticised by the “tax justice” campaigner behind Jeremy Corbyn’s economic policies.

Richard Murphy, the economist and tax expert who is credited as the creator of “Corbynomics,” dismissed it as “an irresponsible stunt”.

Crickhowell residents want to share their tax avoidance plan with other towns, in a bid to force the Treasury into legislation to crack down on loopholes which allowed the likes of Amazon to pay just £11.9m of tax last year on £5.3bn of UK internet sales.