Chris Jordan, Captain of Ludicrous Evangelisation 

Now if there’s one group of people out there who are quite happy to talk tax till the cows come home, it’s our ‘esteemed’ MPs. And with the (unofficial) election campaign hotting up over the last few weeks, they’ve been joined by thousands of candidates in constituencies right across the country. 

We’re putting the finishing flourishes on all our election campaign plans at the moment. I should have some exciting unveiling to do later this week, but in the meantime, you’ll have to make do with our natty tax justice rosette. What do you think? Is that hot pink hot enough??

But if you’d like to talk tax, elections, Robin Hood, prospective parliamentary candidates, country by country financial reporting standards, or good ol’ baby kissing techniques, with us in the flesh, then don’t miss the social event of the season at our exclusive campaign training event!

Alternatively, if you just want a free lunch, you can come along too (just don’t hog all the twiglets).

We’ll be at Amnesty’s Human Rights Action Centre from 1-5 on Saturday 10 April. It should be a fun afternoon, with lots of lovely people from the ranks of ActionAid and The Outlandish Revenue Service. 

There are more details here, and you can email campaign@actionaid.org to book your place. If you ask really nicely, we might even be able to fix you up with your very own tax justice rosette. We do spoil you so…

Chris Jordan, Captain of Ludicrous Evangelisation 

And why not make the Robin Hood face while you’re at it?

The Robin Hood Tax campaign has gone state-side, with a creative masterpiece that’s sure to get our politicians rockin' in the aisles!  Jonathan Mann has been writing and releasing a song a day since he was laid off after the financial crisis.  With a bit of a prod from the TUC, he turned his talents to our support our campaign. 

Who knows? We might even have the next Rage Against the Machine on our hands!

Chris Jordan, Captain of Ludicrous Evangelisation 

We always like it when government minsters talk tax justice – so we we’re ecstatic to read this in a speech from the Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today:

"The opaque system of exchange of information in these tax havens and their non-compliant behaviour are matter of concern not only for revenue base but also linked to financing of activities which are detrimental to the national security interests."

Spot on!

Chris Jordan, Captain of Ludicrous Evangelisation 

Just like us, our mates over at Christian Aid love talking tax. At the moment they’re busy organising a couple of interesting looking events that are sure to get tongues wagging!

First off is Caesar’s Coin, from 7.30-8pm on 24 February at St. Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square. Our old sparring partner Stephen Timms MP will be there, alongside other leading politicians to debate corporate taxes, morality and the developing world. 

After that, Tax, Global Poverty and the City is a training day taking place on 20 March. All the key tax justice issues will be covered – the importance of tax to poor countries, the progress we’ve made so far and plans for the rest of the year.

There’s more information on both events here. 

Chris Jordan, Captain of Ludicrous Evangelisation 

Developing countries lose $100 billion every year from just one tax dodge – and it’s on the rise.

This is the shocking headline from a new report by the fine fellows at Global Financial Integrity. They've estimated that trade mispricing - a common tax dodge - nearly doubled between 2002 and 2006. The developing countries that lose out most to this scam are:

1. China
2. Philippines 
3. Nicaragua
4. Mali
5. Zimbabwe

Greater transparency is the only medicine that will cure this malaise, so I prescribe a healthy dose of online petition, helpfully hosted right here.  

Chris Jordan, Captain of Ludicrous Evangelisation 

We’ve been bowled over by public support for the Robin Hood Tax since we launched on Wednesday. 

But our ludicrously sensible scheme to make the bankers pay a tiny tax that would raise billions isn’t loved by all.  In fact the press are reporting that a few bankers over at Goldman Sachs were so peeved, they decided to try and rig the public poll on the campaign website!

Earlier this week, we we’re rather surprised to see the total number of people voting against the Robin Hood Tax shooting up by thousands in the space of a few minutes.  But hot on the case, a techy bod in tights worked out that they we’re all coming from two computers – one of which was in Goldman Sachs! 

The press have has a field day, with articles like this, this, and this. Round one to Robin Hood!

It’s amazing to see people taking tax justice left, right and centre.  The message that poor countries need tax justice to end poverty once and for all - and we’d benefit in Blighty too - is well and truly out there.  Winner! 

The poll is now closed – but you can show your support by signing up to the campaign here.