I get what you are saying, Ferny, but for me, beating/cheating the system is wrong - regardless of the amounts involved. 

Ah, if out were only that simple. 

My understanding is that these companies (Google, Vodafone, Starbucks and Amazon) are working within the tax laws of the land.

I believe Amazon have made a tax contribution but have made it clear that it is not because they have to but because they want to.

The GBP could on mass stop using these companies and spend their cash on companies that operate within the UK tax system paying back into the economy.

But the downside would be that these organisations employ a lot of people in the UK.

I totally agree Yogi........but when you look at the figures.....them that already claim a decent wage from our taxes....to then go on & claim expenses for X amounts for all sorts of reasons....really doesn't compare!

Sorry Ferny, who do you mean? 

Them that rule us...them that claim expenses from the tax pot....
And them that make money on the backs of us & then don't pay what they owe!

In comparison ....the amount claimed fraudulently by the individual that has nowt..........to those who earns loads and still seek to cheat the system.....is vast!. to say the least. 

Hey ferny one

I get what you're saying, but I wonder what the figures would look like if those big conglomerates left our country? How much tax would we lose out on from their workers? How much would our benefits bill go up?

We are being firmly held over the proverbial barrel

The expenses fiddling was atrocious, but it doesn't excuse benefit fiddling.

Too many people think it's okay to cheat and steal because it's only a small amount. Well, imo, it isn't okay. It's wrong, and I'm not going to dismiss it because somebody else is cheating/fiddling bigger amounts. 

At times, I feel that this country has lost its moral compass, it's depressing.

The expenses fiddling was atrocious, but it doesn't excuse benefit fiddling.

Too many people think it's okay to cheat and steal because it's only a small amount. Well, imo, it isn't okay. It's wrong, and I'm not going to dismiss it because somebody else is cheating/fiddling bigger amounts. 

At times, I feel that this country has lost its moral compass, it's depressing.

An extract from our local paper.......claiming for paper clips and pencil sharpeners 

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/...ion-leader-1-6424103

An extract from our local paper.......claiming for paper clips and pencil sharpeners 

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/...ion-leader-1-6424103

Cheating the system is wrong! whoever you are..I agree Yogi!

What I am demonstrating is...that the amount is disproportionate!
The government will have you think that benefit fraud is rife...
But when you actually look at the figures... it looks like this!

And if you stop all benefit fraud tomorrow it would save the equivalent of £120 a year.

If you eradicated scroungers it would take 1,100 years to pay off the national debt with the money saved. If you got all corporations to pay their tax – an estimated £25bn a year – you could do it in 44 years.

A massive difference ....

Sorry Slimfern ....I'm with Yogi on this one ...cheating is cheating , big or small  

Exactly!

So let's make the little man on £70 a week JSA the villain because he works a day or two to earn a few bob...without declaring it!

So long as you are advocating going after the benefit cheats as well as the corporate tax dodgers, then I'm with you.

Me too Baz..........
I'm assuming you both have it in for each and every MP that has cheated on their expenses......not MADE big corporations to pay what they owe ??

The benefit cheats are a tiny minority to the tax cheats, I'm not saying any of it is right... but to cheat to try and live and to cheat and stash more millions off shore to boost your already large stash of millions,,,in my book there is no contest  

Me too Baz..........
I'm assuming you both have it in for each and every MP that has cheated on their expenses......not MADE big corporations to pay what they owe ??

I don't have it in for anyone, but I don't condone cheating the system - big or small. 

You're right that I have it in for MPs cheating on their expenses ....but I'm afraid I can't agree on the big corporations ....as long as they are not actually breaking the law . If we want them to pay more then the laws have to be changed .....but if their tax affairs are within the  current laws it may be that they are immoral ...but they aren't actually cheating ...IMO

But where do you draw the line, Dame? At what point do you say that cheating the system is wrong?

I'm with Damesy on this one...stashing money along with what is already 'ferreted away' is wrong 

But where do you draw the line, Dame? At what point do you say that cheating the system is wrong?

Indeed it is, but the fact that it is done, does not make benefit cheating less wrong.

all cheating is wrong Yogi...but this government is demonizing one poor part of society and painting it all with the same brush, whilst ignoring the billions that is being sifted away. That's what gets my goat, the blatant propaganda that flows from the likes of Cameron...take a good look at his own fathers will...   I'm not for one minute condoning druggies, dads with a tribe of kids, or people with walking sticks playing golf, what I am saying is those that do that and are in the minority are being showcased as the lazy won't get out of bed layabout cheats that are the unemployed and everyone is being painted with the same brush.

all cheating is wrong Yogi...but this government is demonizing one poor part of society and painting it all with the same brush, whilst ignoring the billions that is being sifted away. That's what gets my goat, the blatant propaganda that flows from the likes of Cameron...take a good look at his own fathers will...   I'm not for one minute condoning druggies, dads with a tribe of kids, or people with walking sticks playing golf, what I am saying is those that do that and are in the minority are being showcased as the lazy won't get out of bed layabout cheats that are the unemployed and everyone is being painted with the same brush.

I'm not condoning any of it, Dame, that's my point - it is all wrong.

I hate this "If you can get away with it - do it!" attitude. 

me too Yogi, I don't condone any of it and sadly the only thing that is highlighted by our fair Tory papers is benefit scroungers...and not the biggest scroungers by a long, long way. 

all cheating is wrong Yogi...but this government is demonizing one poor part of society and painting it all with the same brush, whilst ignoring the billions that is being sifted away. That's what gets my goat, the blatant propaganda that flows from the likes of Cameron...take a good look at his own fathers will...   I'm not for one minute condoning druggies, dads with a tribe of kids, or people with walking sticks playing golf, what I am saying is those that do that and are in the minority are being showcased as the lazy won't get out of bed layabout cheats that are the unemployed and everyone is being painted with the same brush.

Exactly.........

These big businesses that 'abide by the rules with there high paid 'accountants' to slip through the loop holes are not what I would call good for our economy or indeed for the morale of the country!
I ask you........if you were living on £70 a week....would you have respect for a system that allows millions to be unpaid by big corps!
I bloody wouldn't!

Quite galling reading that was. I don't understand why ppl in this country let him get away without pilloring him. I wanted to see Paxman in action, asking the same question 100 times.