Billionaire John Caudwell calls for consumer boycott of organisations which use tax-avoidance
Staffordshire billionaire John Caudwell has called on customers to boycott companies which don't pay enough tax.
The Potteries-raised philanthropist, who sold his Phones 4U company for £1.5bn in 2006, says businesses have a duty to help bankroll the British economy - particularly at a time when ordinary families are having to tighten their belts.
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Billionaire businessman John Caudwell
His call comes a month after the Government's public accounts committee accused Amazon, Google and Starbucks of "immorally minimising their tax obligations". The committee also demanded ministers "get a grip on large corporations which generate significant income in the UK but pay little or no tax".
Mr Caudwell, whose personal wealth is estimated at £1.28bn, backed the demand.
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"The public has every right to know what's going on," he said.
"I would encourage people to boycott organisations - and I would also apply this to my own companies - that aren't behaving in a fiscally responsible way.
"I think I've paid Britain's largest personal income tax bill for the past couple of years. I could have avoided that by moving to Monaco, but honestly I think this country needs my tax dollars. If everyone took their money offshore we would be stony broke."
Sixty-year-old Mr Caudwell was brought up in Shelton, but now lives near Eccleshall. He left Berry Hill High School when he was 17 for an apprenticeship at Michelin. In 1987 he set up his own mobile phone company. By 2003 it employed 8,000 staff around the world.
In an interview with The Sunday Times this week, Mr Caudwell hinted that he hadn't always been a keen taxpayer.
He said: "As a businessman, I'll admit that in the early days I did things that I probably wouldn't do now. I needed my business to grow - and that included tax planning.
"But there came a point when that didn't feel right. How can you preach about what's right for society and then not pay your whack to The Chancellor?"
Mr Caudwell has previously used consumer boycotts to make a point. In 2000 he launched a petition to blacklist German car giant BMW, in protest at its decision to sell-off its Birmingham-based Rover brand.
In recent years Mr Caudwell, who is believed to be the 464th richest man in the world, has set up the Caudwell Children charity, based in Stoke-on-Trent.
Last year he made headlines when he stepped in, with a donation of £1.8m, to save the project to build a memorial to Bomber Command, in London's Green Park.
Comments
by DoctorDo
Thursday, January 03 2013, 7:24PM
“Mole, we should boycott Robbie because he's a rubbish singer, that's reason enough.”
by Real_Stokie
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:51PM
“Funny how people in this area moan about lack of jobs but denigrate someone who's businesses generated several thousand in the area. Or am I being cynical?”
by THX1138
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 8:46PM
“Fundly enough I boycotted all his companies since 2001 when I was on the receiving end of some dubious practices but yes I do agree with Mr Caudwell stop using Starbucks and the rest of these multinational companies!”
by mole10
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 11:23AM
“Does this mean we should boycott Robbie and Gary?”
by mowcopman
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 10:22AM
“Mr Caudwell is not one to talk about boycotting businesses who don't pay their share of tax. Firstly because he himself and his many companies have often dodged tax themselves including if I recall rewarding himself and other directors with fine wines to avoid tax.
It's all very well to point the finger now when he has billions but he needs to think about how he aquired that wealth in the first place.”
by BigFran
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:45AM
“boycot BMW? that lasted well, a lot of the staff at the charity drive them as company cars.”
by Backdoored
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:45AM
“@ RegenMan1
You don't need to rely on Caudwell to 'tell you more'. Just go into any Stoke pub and speak to those older guys who had dealings with Caudwell when he was in business in Shelton Old Rd as a used car Businessman -people who he employed on a 'part-time' basis -they'll give it to you from the horses mouth.
He should learn to keep his mouth shut... he's straying into immoral territory whenever he sees an opportunity to be 'holier than thou'.
I wonder how much he paid for that 'charming studio portrait'? What a berk.”
by RegenMan1
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 9:25AM
“Mr Caudwell said: "As a businessman, I'll admit that in the early days I did things that I probably wouldn't do now".
Do tell us more John.”
by Nikki3698
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 11:35PM
“This from the man who had more dodgy scams than you can shake a stick at.
Whilst I don't agree with tax avoidance incant really fault them, mist peole would do it given half the chance and for MR J C - the words "pot, kettle and black" come to mind”
by greyguitar
Tuesday, January 01 2013, 6:57PM
“Does that include VAT ahem?”