In 2022, following a Lib Dem campaign, Southwark Council became one of nearly 60 UK Fair Tax Councils, and is proud to be part of Fair Tax Week 2024, which runs 9-16 June.

Having signed the Fair Tax declaration in August 2022, Southwark Council is part of a growing movement of cities, towns and districts standing up for responsible tax conduct.

The council joins almost 60 authorities from across the country as supporters of fair tax. The number of UK Fair Tax Councils grew by 30% last year and cross-party support remains high, with councillors from all major parties voting unanimously in support of fair tax in the great majority of places.

Cllr Rachel Bentley, deputy leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, said: “We’re proud that Southwark signed the Fair Tax Declaration two years ago following a campaign from our Liberal Democrat Group. It’s great to have Fair Tax Week as a way to celebrate the organisations that are proud to pay the right amount of tax for the benefit of all, and to champion the positive role that tax plays in our society. Everyone needs to pay their fair share and support our crucial frontline public services.”

Mary Patel, Movement Building and Outreach Manager, Fair Tax Foundation, said: “Tax is so important when considered against the huge array of public services it helps support. Fair Tax Week is the perfect opportunity to celebrate councils like Southwark who are proud to stand up for responsible tax conduct. Recent research has found that the UK loses an estimated £12.5bn in corporation tax revenues as a result of multinational profit shifting alone. Backing fair tax should be clear common ground for all parties this year.”

“More and more councils want to use their buying power to encourage responsible tax conduct, but restrictive public procurement rules leave very little room for councils to act. We are calling on the UK Government to give greater powers to public authorities so they can better address bad tax conduct and reward good tax conduct when buying goods and services.”

Significantly, recent polling has found that almost two thirds of people (64%) believe the Government and local councils should consider a company’s ethics and how they pay their tax, as well as value for money and quality of service provided, when awarding contracts to companies.*