Dear John

After over 12 years of campaigning by many organisations to make sure big companies pay their fair share of tax, finance ministers from the G7 countries came to a historic deal which will see multinational companies pay at least a 15% tax rate on their profits in the countries where they operate. This is a monumental step forward in the fight for tax justice.

Supporters of Church Action on Poverty, Christian Aid and others have stood up for tax justice and kept the pressure on, calling for greater transparency, and demanding legislation to ensure that tax dodging companies have nowhere to hide.

Catching the bus for tax justice

In 2012, we partnered with Christian Aid to organise the Tax Justice Bus Tour, explaining to church groups and politicians across the UK how tax dodging is driving poverty everywhere - both in developing countries and in the UK. The Tax Justice Bus toured the UK for 53 days attracting media coverage and gaining support from MPs, with some even starting their own tax campaigns.

Fair taxes to close the gap

The Tax Justice Bus was just part of our 2011–14 campaign to 'Close the Gap' between rich and poor. Hundreds of Church Action on Poverty supporters took action in all kinds of ways to call for Fair Taxes, Fair Pay, Fair Prices and a Fair Say. If you were part of that campaign, thank you very much! This victory might not be everything we’ve campaigned for, or come about as fast as we’d like, but without all your tireless campaigning this change may never have happened.

It's a reminder that although campaigning can be a long game, change will come if you persist.

Keep up the pressure and keep taking action for change! We'll keep you informed of what action you can take next.

Best wishes

Liam Purcell
Church Action on Poverty