Something we often discuss when making coffee in the office is where do we individually draw the line over what is acceptable...
The recent investigations into HSBC overseas bank accounts asked us to question has society just become too hypocritical? If something isn't illegal is it tax avoidance? Or is it more the 'premeditated' extent to which some will go to achieve this? I mean you wouldn't think of berating someone who had regularly used up all their annual ISA allowances in this way would you? But the simple truth is they too are in some way reducing the amount of tax they pay.
So I think something more fundamental is now needed and things will only ever get better if we each accept we do have a shared and equal responsibility to contribute (relative obviously) to our communities. We will only be able to do so if we somehow manage to reconfigure our own moral compasses.
The Premier League just secured a record breaking £5.14 BILLION by selling the TV rights to their matches. However, these staggeringly wealthy football clubs still pay some of their employees less than the minimum amount needed to cover the cost of living in the UK, which is currently £9.15 per hour in London and £7.85 outside. It would take these staff 13 years to earn as much as some top players earn in a week! Do these clubs seriously expect us to believe that they can’t afford to pay their staff – who provide essential services such as cleaning, catering and stewarding – the basic amount needed to ensure a decent quality of life for them and their families?
