Posted on 2014-04-22 | 02:37

Roger has welcomed the decision by Starbucks to move its European Head Office from Amsterdam to London by the end of this year, following the row which erupted over tax avoidance by Starbucks.

Said Roger: “Companies such as Starbucks have got away with evading their responsibilities to the UK by using ingenious and complicated tax avoidance procedures to avoid paying their fair share of Corporation Tax. This was totally wrong and has been rightly condemned.

“Be under no illusions, however. This decision by Starbucks was not made because the have suddenly accepted that they should pay Corporation Tax on profits they make in the UK, but because of consumer power. This resulted in many coffee drinkers changing to other outlets which do pay Corporation Tax in the UK.

“This sort of consumer power – hitting the company where it hurts the most, which is their profits – should not only be applauded and encouraged, but should happen more often.”