Amazon has been accused of avoiding enough tax to pay for nearly 2,400 nurses.
The GMB union estimates the web giant should have forked out £103million in corporation tax last year. But its biggest business here, Amazon UK Services, paid £14million.
The “missing” £90million could pay for 2,368 nurses, 1,721 paramedics, or 4,496 care workers, said the GMB.
Amazon, founded by US billionaire Jeff Bezos, refuses to say exactly how much it pays in corporation tax here.
Previous Mirror analysis of accounts from 21 UK-registered Amazon firms found their combined bill was £25.3million but this did not include all of its operations. Mick Rix, GMB national officer, said: “Cash that could be used for thousands of carers, nurses or teaching assistants is being poured into Jeff Bezos’ coffers.”
Amazon said: “These calculations are completely incorrect. Our international consumer business is still investing heavily and is loss-making.”
It said in the UK it has 29,500 staff and since 2010 had invested £18billion and its total 2018 UK tax payout was £793million.
There will be a protest at Amazon’s London HQ today. Mirror campaign Have a Happy High Street Christmas aims to support shops.
