Here’s a vivid example of the oligarchs currently fleecing the nation of tax revenue while also advising the coalition government on cutting public services. I wonder if Ferdinand Mount is as hard on Tory favourite “Sir” Phillip Green as he is on the infrastructure in which the rest of us survive. (See my last post on Mount’s defence of the ConDems.)
As much as it pains me to refrain from purchasing from one of my preferred frockeries, I would rather go naked than put another penny into Green’s piggy hands. He famously paid himself a dividend of £1.2 billion from profits by his Arcadia group (Topshop, Miss Selfridge, BHS and others), but made the cheque out to his wife, a resident of Monaco, thereby escaping a tax bill of some £280 million. And now he’s wrecking lives of countless people by colluding with the thieving Bullingdonites running and ruining the country.
UKuncut organised an occupation of Topshop yesterday, a spokesman promising: “If you bring your market into our education, we will bring our education into your market.”
“At 1.30pm on Monday 29th November, a group of students and citizens fighting cuts used Twitter and Facebook to organise a flashmob against Topshop where they staged a public lecture on the dangers of debt. Dressed as prisoners in a chain gang, enslaved to debt, they protested at Topshop’s flagship store in Oxford Street.”
Watch out for the spirited Laurie Penny in the video.
TOPSHOP ACTION DAY SATURDAY DECEMBER 4TH
UKuncut website
UKuncut on Twitter
Richest 1,000 could pay off the deficit here
Anna’s food blog here:
http://annacheneats.blogspot.com/
Oh dear, they beat West Brom and me being a West Mids person….. 🙂
I have to say that the Dec 4 initiative was brilliant. It was imaginative, dynamic and very lively led by young people. It felt optimistic as it goes beyond the usual demo and protest. And the fact Boots and Dorothy Perkins shut down, possibly for not that long but I bet we reduced their profits for that day, same with Top Shop. Also passers by would stop and speak to us, asking us why we were protesting. One woman I spoke to was absolutely livid that Green et al weren't paying their tax so I think we did make an impact on Oxford St. It felt like you were part of something collective, a real spirited resistance.
And the two chants: "We are the tax enforcement society" and "If you want to sell your clothes pay your tax"..
I had a really fab time, DB. You have to be there to get the excitement. A great night out, especially as they beat West Brom 1-0.
Hope you enjoyed it! I imagine Portman Road was freezing cold and a quarter empty but given the result I bet the atmosphere was special. That's what football's all about 🙂
I believe it is Ipswich Town, DB.
That video is very cheering. Just listening out for what's happening in Trafalgar Square right now.
Brilliant scenes. I'd love to see Green's face when he heard about what happened!
Just seen your Twitter MM — which football match are you going to tomorrow?