Billy Bragg To Withold Tax In RBS Protest (since Billy was on BBC this morning we have not heard any more of this in the media, got them frightened that the people of this great nation will get together and end this outrage. He is on again on Sky news at, I believe 7.15pm, Wednesday 19th January)
12:50pm UK, Monday January 18, 2010 Musician Billy Bragg has announced he will refuse to pay income tax from January 31 in protest at bonus payments made at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Billy Bragg Rebel: Billy Bragg is famous for his political songs inspiring protest and direct action In a letter to Chancellor Alistair Darling, the musician and political activist declared he was no longer prepared to fund “the excessive bonuses of RBS investment bankers”. In a statement he said: “If you pay tax in the UK, you are a major shareholder in several banks – Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and Northern Rock. “The Treasury spent £117bn of taxpayers’ cash bailing out Britain’s failing banks. “The estimated £1.5bn that RBS will pay to its investment bankers next month in the form of bonuses will ultimately be drawn from the taxes you and I are due to pay on January 31. Billy Bragg Letter Bragg has written to Mr Darling stating he will withold income tax from 31st Jan “Unless Mr Darling acts to limit bonues to £25,000, I shall be withholding my tax payment on January 31.” The Royal Bank of Scotland is 84% owned by UK taxpayers. It has announced £1.5bn in bonuses will be paid to staff this year, even though the RBS group is expected to make a loss. Mr Bragg has launched a Facebook group NoBonus4RBS urging others to withhold their income tax. I’m encouraging those that can to withhold their taxes and write to the chancellor and hopefully they’ll do something. Billy Bragg Visitors are encouraged to download and fill out a template letter expressing their outrage to send to the Chancellor. Mr Bragg told Sky News: “I’m a bit new to Facebook but I’m trying to act as a lightning rod for people frustrated about this issue. “I got my tax demand in the post last week and I thought, ‘I’m going to pay this and it’s going straight into some banker’s pocket’. “I’m encouraging those that can to withhold their taxes and write to the Chancellor and hopefully they’ll do something.” RBS has argued bonuses are needed to ensure the best staff are retained. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs Office said anyone withholding income tax could be prosecuted. “When people owe a tax debt to the exchequer it has to be paid and if they’re refusing to pay, we’ll be hard on them,” a spokesman said. A Treasury spokesman said: “We can reassure Mr Bragg and anyone else that there will not be big bonuses paid with taxpayer’s money at RBS.”
send Bill a message on Facebook- www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=417490570190#/group.php?v=wall&gid=417490570190
