Anti-cuts protesters force Topshop to close its flagship store
Arcadia boss Philip Green and Vodafone accused of tax avoidance
Campaigners took over Sir Philip Green’s flagship London Topshop store yesterday, forcing it to close its doors on one of the busiest trading days of the year, as sit-ins and protests were staged across Britain against tax avoidance by rich individuals and big businesses.
The Arcadia retail group tycoon and businesses including Vodafone, Barclays and Boots are the focus of rising anger over government cuts that campaigners say could be avoided if alleged tax dodging were stamped out, bringing in some £25bn a year to the public purse.
In Brighton, protesters superglued themselves to Topshop’s window, while security guards in Oxford Street bundled reporters and protesters out of the store before around 70 to 80 demonstrators, chanting “Philip Green pay your tax”, left voluntarily and moved on to Arcadia’s BHS store, which also had to be closed to shoppers, as did a Vodafone shop.
Green, recently made an adviser on public spending by David Cameron, is under fire because his wife, his firm’s direct owner, lives in Monaco, a tax haven.
Amid growing disquiet over spending cuts, the latest protests took place in Birmingham, Glasgow, York, Bristol, Manchester and Nottingham, under the banner of “UK Uncut” – a new movement that is gathering support via social networking sites.
One protester, Ed Greens, 20, from north-west London, said: “We know Topshop owes the government tax. Together with companies like Vodafone, big businesses owe £126bn. We are taking direct action on companies like Topshop .”
Eileen Smith, 78, said. “I support anyone who is fighting hese terrible cuts. How dare this government say we are all in this together when 24 members of the cabinet are millionaires and men like Philip Green and his cronies are feted. The hypocrisy is sickening.”
Her friend Mary, 64, agreed: “And don’t let anyone say this protest is hijacked by anarchists. If anything, it’s hijacked by pensioners!”
UK Uncut held similar protests in October after Vodafone settled a large tax avoidance claim with the government but paid a lot less than expected.
James Kelly, a spokesman for UK Uncut, said: “Tax avoidance is a big issue and we believe this is the alternative to the cuts the government are making.”
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