I am writing in reply to the letter published on January 4 re ‘Prudent Taxation’.

Yes, prudent taxation is ideal, but it must also be fair taxation!

Recently, it has been revealed that AI (Artificial Intelligence) is to be used to track down benefit fraud and evasion. 

All very good but what about the rich and super rich who evade taxes by investing in offshore trusts, to avoid their fair share of the taxation burden? These were recently exposed by the Panama Papers!

HMRC say that due to cuts in their staff, they could not investigate all the papers? But if AI was used perhaps all banking transactions could be traced and the correct taxation 20% for ordinary taxpayers, and 45% for the super-rich could be applied. 

Surely this is only fair? Also conglomerates like Facebook, Netflix and Amazon who avoid their fair share of corporation tax, but basing their headquarters in tax havens like Luxembourg could also be held to account and be forced to pay their fair share of tax.

Tax evasion is worth billions of pounds and if tax was collected fairly, there would be billions extra for our Health Service and Public Services? 

But please don’t hold your breath. The Tories will never change, a leopard never changes its spots. But in fairness it would be a great achievement if it did.

BARRY THOMPSON

VICE CHAIRMAN

DORCHESTER AND DISTRICT LABOUR PARTY