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 89% of British adults say tax avoidance by large companies is morally wrong – Christian Aid / ComRes poll  

- Almost nine out of 10 (89%) British adults say tax avoidance by large companies is morally wrong even if it’s legal, according to a new ComRes poll for Christian Aid

- Government “complacent” in the face of overwhelming public opposition to tax avoidance

Almost nine out of 10 (89%) of British adults say tax avoidance by large companies is morally wrong even if it’s legal, according to a new ComRes poll for Christian Aid.

The poll is published ahead of the Budget, which is expected to include new measures against tax avoidance following further revelations made in the Paradise Papers.

The poll also found that more than four in five Britons (85%) agree that large companies in the UK can avoid tax too easily.

People are also worried about tax avoidance in the world’s poorer countries. Four out of five British adults (78%) say it’s important to them that large companies pay their fair share of tax in developing countries and three-quarters (75%) say the next UK government should legislate to discourage UK companies from avoiding tax in these countries.

The poll was conducted on 15-16 November by research agency ComRes who surveyed 2,051 British adults aged 18+. It found that just under one in four people (23%) believe political parties have gone far enough in their promises to tackle tax avoidance by large companies.

Simon Kirkland, Christian Aid UK parliamentary and political adviser, said: “This poll clearly shows massive public opposition to tax avoidance by large companies, both in the UK and in developing countries. 

“Tax havens cost the UK economy billions of pounds in lost revenue each year. They also cost developing countries hundreds of billions of pounds that could instead be used to tackle poverty.

“But Government appears to have developed a tin ear to overwhelming public opinion. It appears to be complacent on the issue and has introduced measures that are often too little too late,

“We need proper action now and there is much the Government could do. For example, Ministers should insist that UK companies publish the taxes they pay and other key indicators, in every country in which they work. They took the power to do this in June 2016, but have done very little to make it a reality. 

“In addition, given the scale of tax avoidance linked with the UK’s tax havens, the Prime Minister should set a deadline for the UK’s Overseas Territories to adopt the same transparency on true company ownership as the UK.

“We also want to see the UK committing to further leadership at the global level to ensure stronger global coordination and action to ensure that the poorest, most vulnerable, countries do not continue to be hit the hardest by tax avoidance.”

ENDS

Methodology: ComRes surveyed 2,051 British adults aged 18+ between 15th – 16th November. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.  For the full data please look here: http://www.comresglobal.com/polls/christian-aid-tax-avoidance-november-2017/

Notes to editors:

1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in around 50 countries at any one time. We act where there is great need, regardless of religion, helping people to live a full life, free from poverty. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance in tackling the root causes of poverty as well as its effects.

2. Christian Aid’s core belief is that the world can and must be changed so that poverty is ended:  this is what we stand for. Everything we do is about ending poverty and injustice: swiftly, effectively, sustainably. Our strategy document Partnership for Change explains how we set about this task.

3. Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development.  Further details at http://actalliance.org

4. Follow Christian Aid's newswire on Twitter: http://twitter.com/caid_newswire

5. For more information about the work of Christian Aid visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk