Alliance election promise to ‘open company tax books’
Westminster election candidate Naomi Long has promised to introduce a bill opening up companies’ tax activities to the public if she is re-elected.
Pledging to tackle “tax dodging”, Ms Long said she would pursue the policy if she holds onto her East Belfast Westminster seat after May 7.
She said transparency in public life was an important part of the Alliance manifesto, and promised to lodge the bill with the House of Commons within the first 100 days of Parliament’s reformation.
“Tax evasion costs the country a substantial amount of money each year,” she said. “It is money that could be used to stimulate economic growth and improve public services.
“A tax-dodging bill, introduced as a matter of priority within the first 100 days of the new Parliament, would see a massive reform to the system.”
Ms Long said such a bill would require foreign companies to pay tax on profits generated within the UK.
“It would also improve transparency by opening up companies’ tax activities to the public, while strengthening the enforcement of and penalties for tax evasion,” she added.
