Camden Green Party has called for Camden council to end its mobile phone contract with Vodafone as soon as possible in reaction to the phone giant’s decision to avoid paying £6bn in taxes. It has launched a petition to support the call, and urges residents to sign it.
Camden Green Party councillor Maya de Souza said: "The £6bn bill that Vodafone negotiated away could have made huge differences in Camden, where slashed government funding is threatening essential services on which we all rely.
"The council should ‘vote with its feet’. We need to make it clear to major companies – particularly those on which we all rely such as utility companies and banks – that they need to make a fair contribution to the society from which they make their profits. Indeed, they should recognise that without making a fair contribution that will keep people in jobs and able to pay their bills, their businesses are unsustainable."
Maya added: "Local journalist Richard Osley has already done excellent work on this, highlighting the fact that Vodafone collected more than £96,000 from Camden council last November, and £125,000 in October."
Natalie Bennett, chair of Camden Green Party, added: "We’d urge other councils, charities, companies and individuals to consider ending their contracts with Vodafone.
"We’ve seen the protesters of UK Uncut make great progress in raising the profile of this issue. Now is the time for all of us to act, to indicate very clearly to this company – and others – that they have to pay their fair share of tax.
Natalie added that Glasgow Green councillors were also acting on this issue, tabling a motion calling for the city council there to end all contracts with Vodafone.
Maya concluded: "We ask all Camden residents and other concerned people to sign our petition today – and if they have any contracts with Vodafone to consider their position as soon as possible."
The petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-camden-libraries-make-vodafone-pay-taxes/
Glasgow: http://news.stv.tv/scotland/228557-vodafone-ripping-off-glasgow-say-councillors/