He is the rock legend dubbed 'Saint Bono' for his long-running campaign against global poverty.
But when Bono's band U2 perform at Glastonbury later this month, protesters are planning to accuse them of avoiding taxes which could have helped exactly the sort of people the singer cares about so dearly.
Members of activist group Art Uncut will hoist a massive inflatable sign with the message 'Bono Pay Up' spelt out in lights during the Irish band's headline performance.
They will also parade bundles of oversized fake cash in front of the singer.
The protest has been provoked by U2's decision to move their multi-million-pound music and publishing business away from Ireland – thus allegedly avoiding taxes on record sales.
A spokesman for Art Uncut, an off-shoot of controversial group UK Uncut, said the protest would not be violent or disrupt U2's set – but would be 'highly visible'.
He said: 'Bono claims to care about the developing world, but U2 greedily indulges in the very kind of tax avoidance that is crippling poor nations.
'We will be showing the very real impact of U2's tax avoidance on hospitals and schools in Ireland. Anyone watching will be made very aware that Bono needs to pay up.'
Bono has previously been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and granted an honorary knighthood by the Queen in recognition of his charity work and activism.
The U2 frontman regularly meets political leaders to lobby on behalf of developing nations and has visited countries including Ethiopia and Mexico to try to improve the lives of the world's poor.
But U2 sparked criticism in 2006 by shifting part of their business affairs from Ireland to the Netherlands after a cap on generous tax breaks for artists in their home country.
At the time, Irish politicians branded U2's move a cynical ploy, leading to accusations that, while the band were urging the Government to give more money to relieve poverty, they were denying it the funds to do so.
Last year, U2 members were the highest-earning musicians in the world, raking in approximately £80 million.
Protesters also aim to draw attention to what they say is the 'bigger picture' of the impact of tax avoidance on Ireland's economy.
They plan to float an oversized bundle of fake cash across the crowd, from an Irish tricolour on one side of the spectators to a Dutch flag on the other, during the band's set at the rock festival in Somerset on June 24.
Tax expert and anti-poverty campaigner Richard Murphy said: 'If Bono thinks he is just like any other Irishman, he should pay his taxes like everyone else. That is the only way for Ireland to break out of the mess it is in.'
A spokesman for U2, who are on tour in Vancouver, was unavailable for comment yesterday and Glastonbury organisers also declined to comment.
The band's manager, Paul McGuinness, has previously claimed: 'U2 is a global business and pays taxes globally... at least 95 per cent of U2's business takes place outside of Ireland and as a result the band pays many different kinds of taxes all over the world.'
Bono has been reluctant to explain the tax strategy, but the band's guitarist The Edge has admitted: 'Of course we want to be tax-efficient – who doesn't?'
Art Uncut's plans follow a wave of protests against wealthy Britons who are believed to be using tax-avoidance strategies as Britain struggles to pay off its huge budget deficit.
Philip Green's Topshop, Boots and Fortnum and Mason have all been targeted by campaigners recently.
U2 pulled out of last year's Glastonbury Festival after Bono hurt his back. This year they will join bill-toppers Beyonce and Coldplay.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394422/Saint-Bono-facing-huge-Glastonbury-protest--avoiding-tax.html#ixzz1OOD5Ul1q
3 comments:
Lee, you fail to recognise that it's THEIR money not the governments.
Introduce a flat tax, similar to the US fair tax or the tax system in Switzerland whereupon EVERYONE pays taxes via purchasing products, groceries etc with no hidden taxes etc. A flat tax means even illegal immigrants, tax dodgers, criminals will pay into the system.
Wouldn't put my trust in UK Uncut and their ilk Lee. Looks like a government front/backed group that is helping to enforce the government's unfair tax system.
Soooo let me get this straight..Dumb assed left wing morons will flock to Glastonbury paying 200 pounds each, the money which will go directly into Bono's pocket and then wave fake money in front of him in protest...that makes sense.
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