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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Voice of the Mirror

Facebook tax dodge technically legal but morally abhorrent - Voice of the Mirror

Here is one story that nobody is going to like on Facebook.

The social media giant had UK revenues of £1.65billion last year but paid just £28.5million in tax.

You do not need to be a maths expert to realise that Facebook is taking the British taxpayer for a massive ride.

The company uses clever accounting to lower its tax bill by shifting its profits overseas. It is technically legal but morally abhorrent.

Facebook employs staff who are educated at our schools and universities, cared for by our health service and protected by our police.

It benefits from our expertise and infrastructure but balks at making a fair contribution towards their cost. When firms such as this leech off the state it is the rest of us who pick up the bill through higher taxes.

We need new laws that force global giants to pay taxes in the countries where they sell and make products.

EU deal fragile

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (via REUTERS)

Boris Johnson was forced to the negotiating table after Parliament rightly blocked his path to a no-deal Brexit.

Against the odds there is now a chance that an agreement with the EU can be reached.

There is still much to do in a short space of time to nail down a workable deal. This fragile compromise could collapse and there is no guarantee it will be passed by the Commons.

It is sensible for everyone to withhold judgement until the exact details are published.

Labour and the trade unions are not going to endorse a Brexit that tramples on our precious employment rights and opens the door of our NHS to US health giants.

Many will welcome a deal but not one that sells out workers and the health service.

Saddest cuddle

Watching young Gabriella Zaghari-Ratcliffe reunite with her father Richard was rather bittersweet.

The joy of seeing the child hug her dad was mixed with sadness that her mother Nazanin is still in an Iranian jail.

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